Donovan Mitchell: “We’re championship contenders once we’re wholesome”
In an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape on Thursday, Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell opened up a few vary of topics, shedding gentle on his future with the crew and his hopes for the upcoming season. One of many key matters mentioned was his determination to decide to Cleveland by signing an extension this offseason. Mitchell expressed his confidence within the group’s path and his consolation in persevering with his journey with the Cavs, citing the crew’s progress and potential as main components.
Mitchell additionally shared his ideas on the crew’s teaching change, because the Cavaliers opted to interchange head coach J.B. Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson. Whereas Bickerstaff performed a job in guiding the crew to current success, Mitchell is optimistic about Atkinson’s management, noting his expertise and monitor report in creating successful cultures.
Reflecting on the Cavaliers’ playoff run final spring, which marked their first sequence victory since 2018, Mitchell acknowledged that whereas the crew has made strides, they’re removed from glad. He believes the Cavaliers have a better ceiling and emphasised that their aspirations transcend simply making it to the second spherical. With their younger core persevering with to develop and new management on the helm, Mitchell has excessive expectations for the 2024/25 season and is raring to see the crew take the subsequent step towards competing for a championship.
“We’re championship contenders once we’re wholesome,” Mitchell mentioned. “I really feel like final yr we grew in quite a lot of methods. We performed quite a lot of alternative ways. Now throughout that (22-4) stretch we went on (from December to February), clearly D.G. (Darius Garland) and Evan (Mobley) have been harm. However we discovered one thing that actually may also help carry us to the subsequent degree. So now the trick is how can we proceed to implement that model of play over 82 (video games) after which the ultimate 16 (playoff) wins.
“However the improvement, that’s a part of the explanation why I made a decision to signal was as a result of I consider in our improvement,” he continued. “I consider within the starvation and the desire that now we have as a bunch. And so, for us, I consider we’re cherished contenders when wholesome. However on the finish of the day, I can let you know this, we acquired to go on the market and proceed to show it every day. We haven’t executed something.”
Cavaliers Notes: Mitchell, Allen, Objectives, Rotation https://t.co/9qvNp0x4KP pic.twitter.com/5YUwKkRHJ2
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