Cavs more hungry, less satisfied after clinching berth in playoffs
All-star guard Donovan Mitchell criticized Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Jarrett Allen on Friday night during their most important regular-season game of the year.
After the Cavs clinched an NBA playoff berth with a 129-120 win over the Indiana Pacers, Mitchell revealed he had told starting center Allen he “went up weak” with the ball as he tried to make a layup. Mitchell also opined to Allen the officials “bailed you out” by calling a foul.
The scene presumably unfolded with 7:27 left in the fourth quarter, when Mitchell whispered into Allen's ear after a sequence fitting the description.
The next time Allen had an opportunity, he earned Mitchell's approval by attacking with authority. The outcome? A three-point play by Allen on a Mitchell assist and a 110105 Cavs lead with 6:12 remaining.
“I want him to stop critiquing me — in the nicest way possible,” Allen said with a laugh. “He said what he said, and I was like, 'All right. I've got you.' I went up, and I dunked the next one or whatever it was.”
The exchange between Mitchell and Allen shows how the standard has changed from 2023 to 2024 in Cleveland.
Although the Cavs weren't necessarily happy to just make the playoffs last year, a collective sense of satisfaction existed within the franchise when it entered the postseason for the first time since 2018.
This year is different. The Cavs are more experienced. They added floor-spacing shooters in the offseason who better equip the roster for high-stakes situations. They acquired new faces who have been in postseason battles.
The core of the team is hungrier after the New York Knicks flat-out embarrassed Cleveland during the first round in 2023.
None of this guarantees the Cavs (48-33) success in the upcoming playoffs. Personnel and coaching matchups will be crucial factors, but intangibles do matter.
“The mindset wasn't to get to the playoffs. The mindset was to win in the playoffs,” said forward Max Strus. "We've gone through everything possible during the season [with a
long list of injuries], and I just think a lot of guys in here have the want to win. That's a big part of it. The want and the will to win, a lot of the playoffs comes down to that.”
The Cavs were not tough enough a year ago, and Allen conceded they have yet to
earn the right to discard the reputation. He understands the real judgment time awaits the Cavs.
“We all came here to win,” said forward Georges Niang, who signed with the Cavs last offseason.