Considering most things coming out of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 122-101 loss to the Phoenix Suns weren't noteworthy, Donovan Mitchell's performance more than stood out. Mitchell, who has been dealing with a bothersome knee injury since Cleveland exited the All-Star break, hasn't been on the court lately. The performance he gave against the Suns wasn’t peak Mitchell but, instead, it was a step in the right direction.
“I’m trying to be easier on myself,” Mitchell said. “That’s the biggest thing. Have to be patient with these things. Not going to just come out and be what I was. It's going to take time to build that and that’s what this is for and that’s why I’m playing these games — to get back and get these reps.
“I want to be perfect for the group. I’m continuing to build so when we get to the playoffs, I’m ready to go.”
Mitchell finished the game with a team-high 24 points, including 15 in a more competitive second half, on 8-17 shooting, 2-7 from three-point range and 6 of 6 from the foul line in 38 minutes seems fairly pedestrian – especially for Mitchell's standards. But it's only the second time Mitchell has scored more than 20 points since the Cavs beat the Dallas Mavericks at home in late February – which is surprising considering Mitchell once scored 71 points in a game and has an offensive motor that runs red-hot.
How Donovan Mitchell learned to stop worrying and love the process
So, although the Mitchell that took the floor against Phoenix wasn't the usual Mitchell we've all grown accustomed to, it's encouraging to see progress in his recovery.
“Starting to feel more and more like myself,” Mitchell said. “It’s not just going to happen overnight for me. As much as it sucks, I have to be patient. I was happy with how I came out in the second half and how I felt. Continue building on that. It wasn’t perfect, obviously. But we’re at our best when I’m aggressive and continuing to get downhill. I saw it in spurts. Just trying to get back into my flow.”
For Mitchell, who has made it clear that his knee is fine structurally and there's no reason for long-term concern, dealing with this bothersome knee injury has been a test of patience. Although his mind knows his knee is fine, his body tells him otherwise, needing repeated actions on the floor to help him regain his burst and athleticism. Thankfully, this isn't the first time where his patience has been tested during his NBA career – all Mitchell has to do is look back to his time with the Utah Jazz.
During the 2020-21 season, Donovan Mitchell missed the final 16 regular-season games and Utah’s playoff opener after tearing three ligaments in his right ankle. There wasn’t an opportunity to regain rhythm or previous playing form ahead of the playoffs to shake off the rust, build back up or work through any growing pains. Instead, Mitchell was thrown right into the fire and although his Jazz were able to put away the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, Mitchell still wasn't 100% and it sent Utah packing in the second round against the LA Clippers.
With that experience still weighing on him, Mitchell knows he has to do whatever he can to be at 100% the moment the postseason begins. But, simultaneously, he cannot sacrifice the hard work he's already put in during his ongoing recovery.
“Having to mentally fight through that has helped prepare me for this and allowed me to understand to give myself grace,” Mitchell said. “In my head, that allowed me to sit back and allow myself to get rest. But it’s tough. It’s tough. Not the easiest thing in the world. Mentally, you have to continue to push. I will get there. I’m confident in that. Gotta be patient and just be 1% better every day with this.”
Slowly but surely, Mitchell is starting to feel like his old self, and with only five games left in the regular season, the Cavs, like Mitchell, must remain patient in his recovery. The payoff will be worth the struggle, especially if Mitchell can carry Cleveland like before when the games matter the most.
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