Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell takes blame for skid, adds that things will get turned around

In the grand scheme of things, a four-game losing streak isn’t really that big of a deal. Not in March and certainly not for a contender like the Cavaliers.

But it’s not ideal, either. And neither is the recent play of All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. He’s actually struggled for a couple weeks. That includes a 2-of-18 shooting performance in Friday’s loss in Phoenix. He went 0-of-8 on 3-pointers to boot.

It may have been the worst game of his life. It certainly was his worst of the here and now. Mitchell accepted responsibility — and frankly, probably took too much of the blame.

But I’ve covered the NBA for 17 years. Mitchell is the best leader I’ve ever seen in a Cavs locker room. Good leaders don’t point the finger. 

“Put this on me,” Mitchell said after the loss to the Suns, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “When your leader ain’t doing (expletive), this is what happens. If I’m not being who I need to be then we’re not going to get to where we want to get to. So, until that happens — and it will — yeah, if you’re looking for where to point, it’s right here.”

Mitchell isn’t to blame for the entire team not getting it done defensively over at least three of the past four games. The Cavs (56-14) will play well in spurts … but just haven’t been the same as the team that won 15 straight to start the season, 12 straight after that, and then 16 in a row before this skid.

Those streaks are more likely who this team is. They are championship contenders. This streak is highly likely a late-season aberration. Mitchell is definitely not to blame. He just needs to make start making shots again. Honestly, not a big deal.

“We’re not pointing fingers,” guard Ty Jerome said. “We’re going to figure it out as a group. It’s an 82-game season and every single team has hit adversity along the way. It doesn’t surprise me that he said that. That’s who he is. You’re obviously not going to win or lose a game because of one player.”

As for Mitchell, there again are no excuses. That’s just not who he is.

“I have to be better. Simple as that,” he said. “We have to guard better. We have to rebound. (Expletive) all that. It’s on me. I have to be better for the group. I’ve been good for the group all year. But this is on me. There really is nowhere else to look.

“I will be better. I will figure it out. As much as it sucks, it’s just something you have to … I would rather it happen today. But I work too hard to give in to this. Just have to keep pushing, keep plugging. I have no doubt I will be better. But until I am, here we are.

“I’m just not myself. I’m there in spurts. But there’s not a level of consistency. That’s what this team needs from me.”

The Cavaliers remain on the road, with a visit to Utah on Sunday. Mitchell’s career began with the Jazz, so that could be the perfect opponent against which to get back on track. Tipoff is 3:30 p.m. EST.