Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell: I can and will play better

Donovan Mitchell isn’t spending much time looking back.

After the Cavaliers survived a seven-game series against the Raptors, Mitchell made it clear the focus has already shifted to what’s next.

“You can’t sit there and get upset about things in the past,” Mitchell said in his diary for Andscape. “We figured it out in seven, and now we got to go out there and get right to it.”

Cleveland needed all seven games to advance, including a Game 7 in which Jarrett Allen delivered on both ends. Mitchell said there was never panic, even when things got tight.

“I had no doubt that we were going to win,” he said.

Now comes the next challenge. The Pistons.

Detroit also went the distance in the first round, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Magic. Mitchell expects another physical, high-level series.

“They’re tough-minded,” he said. “They’ve been phenomenal all season.”

Mitchell also pointed to Cade Cunningham as a central matchup.

“He’s one of the best guys in this league,” Mitchell said.

The Cavs split the regular-season series with Detroit and enter the matchup coming off a grind. Mitchell acknowledged his own play in the first round could improve, giving himself a “B-minus, C-plus” grade while noting he can impact the game in more ways than scoring.

“But I graded myself on overall performance,” he said. “How did I impact the game outside of just scoring? I didn’t think I did a great job. I think I did a good job, but I think I could have been better. But guess what? You learn, right? You figure those things out and you can be better. And I will.”

More than anything, Mitchell emphasized the bigger picture across the league.

“The coolest part about it is it could be anybody,” he said. “You see that there’s an opportunity.”

That’s the mindset the Cavs are carrying into the second round.

Short turnaround. New opponent. Same belief.

(You can check out Mitchell’s full diary on Andscape here.)