Cavs Soaring With Fresh Legs: Donovan Mitchell’s Minutes Down As Darius Garland, Evan Mobley Rise

November 16, 2024

The Cavaliers are cooking right now, and Donovan Mitchell‘s role in the blistering 14-0 start is a major part of the equation.

The All-Star guard has seen a noticeable reduction in his minutes, down to a career-low 30.7 per game, but that’s exactly what the Cavaliers were hoping for when they hit the reset button this offseason.

Mitchell, who dealt with leg injuries last season, is feeling fresher and more energized, and it’s showing. With less wear and tear on his body, he’s been able to focus more on the team’s overall growth while trusting his teammates to step up when needed.

Mitchell acknowledged that the shorter minutes have been a mental boost as well.

“I’m not playing as much and we’re still able to push and get better,” he said.

That’s the key — Cleveland doesn’t need Mitchell to go full throttle every night, and that’s allowing the team to show its depth.

Of course, health has been the key focus for Mitchell after last season’s struggles. He reworked his offseason regimen, giving himself six weeks off and incorporating Pilates to stay in peak condition. His commitment to his body, including the addition of a traveling chef, shows he’s taking a more mature approach to the grind at 28 years old.

But Mitchell’s recovery is only part of the story.

Darius Garland and Evan Mobley have both stepped up in huge ways this season, and Cleveland couldn’t be more excited. Garland’s numbers are at career highs, including shooting splits that are making him one of the most efficient guards in the league.

His 3-point shooting has been especially impressive, and he’s starting to shine in clutch moments, like his pick-and-roll success against the Bucks last week.

Mobley, though, is really starting to turn heads. He’s not just scoring more — his rebounding and ball-handling have taken major strides, and his ability to push the ball in transition is giving the Cavs another dynamic weapon. New coach Kenny Atkinson is using Mobley in the same way that Steve Kerr uses Draymond Green with the Warriors, as sort of a point forward.

The rise of Garland and Mobley is proving why the Cavaliers were right to extend them long-term, and if they keep developing at this rate, we may be looking at a core that’s built to compete/contend for years to come.

Cleveland’s early success is no fluke. They’ve struck the right balance between veteran leadership, young talent, and depth, and the improvements in Mitchell’s game — and the development of Garland and Mobley — have set them up for a big-time season. As Mitchell said, they haven’t even reached full throttle yet.