PHOENIX — Shortly after the clock ticked away on a fourth consecutive loss — the longest stretch of futility in an otherwise remarkable season — Cavs star Donovan Mitchell didn’t see any need for thorough analysis.
There was only one culprit.
Him.
“Put this on me,” Mitchell said pointedly [following the 123-112 loss to the Phoenix Suns](https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2025/03/cavs-hit-low-point-of-season-with-123-112-loss-to-phoenix-suns.html). “When your leader ain’t doing (expletive), this is what happens. If I’m not being who I need to be then we’re not going to get to where we want to get to. So, until that happens — and it will — yeah, if you’re looking for where to point, it’s right here.”
Mitchell briefly discussed the leaky defense.
The Cavs allowed more than 120 points for the fourth time in the last five games. Friday was statistically the seventh-worst defensive performance — a night Cleveland had no answers for the Kevin Durant-led Suns who shot a scorching 52.2% from the field and 45.2% from 3-point range. Durant finished with 42 points — his second-highest scoring output this season — on 17 of 29 from the field and 4 of 9 from beyond the arc. Uncoincidentally, three of the Cavaliers’ 10 worst defensive showings have come during this losing skid.
Mitchell briefly discussed the team’s recent rebounding woes — the third consecutive game with a negative differential.
He wouldn’t have been off base to touch on a lackadaisical effort and lack of focus for about three quarters that put the East-leading Cavaliers into a 21-point hole and had them trailing for more than 43 minutes.
But Mitchell understands his role. Leaders must take accountability.
“I’ve proven I can be elite on a pretty consistent basis and when you’re not it’s pretty glaring,” Mitchell said. “I’ve been through something like this before. Like I said the other day, I’m a sicko for this (expletive). This tests who you really are mentally. My teammates definitely won’t put this on me. But it has been a consistent theme for the past four games. Y’all know who I am. I carry this. Four games don’t define who I am as a player. But it’s going to be loud. I’m not going to run from the criticism. This is the role I have. This is my job.”
Mitchell didn’t make his first basket until there were 17 seconds remaining in the first half. He stumbled to a season-low seven points while missing 16 of his 18 shot attempts, including all eight triples. It’s the sixth time this month that Mitchell has shot below 47% from the field. It’s his lowest scoring output since Feb. 2, 2023.
“I’ve been like this for the past four games, and we’ve lost four straight,” Mitchell explained. “I have to be better. Simple as that. We have to guard better. We have to rebound. (Expletive) all that. It’s on me. I have to be better for the group. I’ve been good for the group all year. But this is on me. There really is nowhere else to look.
“I will be better. I will figure it the (expletive) out. As much as it sucks, it’s just something you have to … I would rather it happen today. But I work too damn hard to give into this. Just have to keep pushing, keep plugging. I have no doubt I will be better. But until I am, here we are.
“I’m just not myself. I’m there in spurts. But there’s not a level of consistency. That’s what this team needs from me.”
Last week while the Cavs were in Tennessee for a team trip to Nashville and then a Friday showdown with the Memphis Grizzlies, Mitchell remained in Cleveland to nurse a minor groin injury.
Is he still feeling the effects of that?
“I’m fine,” Mitchell said. “I’m fine. I’m fine.”
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson was asked the same question.
“I know he gets it worked on before the game, but he hasn’t said anything to me,” Atkinson responded. “And the performance staff has obviously green-lighted him.”
Friday was Cleveland’s third game in four nights — and Mitchell was available for each one, averaging 32 minutes. He participated in both legs of this back-to-back to start the road trip. His shot profile hasn’t changed. Since the start of March, his frequency of attempts in the paint and restricted area have actually increased, something that Atkinson continues to stress.
At the very least, Mitchell’s health is worth monitoring, especially if his efficiency continues to plummet.
Then again, these troubles began weeks ago, before the achy groin led to five days on the sidelines.
Since the beginning of March, Mitchell, who prides himself on efficiency, is shooting a horrendous 32.9% from the field and 17.9% from 3-point range.
“He’s been batting .400. He’s been Ted Williams all year,” Atkinson said. “You’re just going to have moments like this during the season. It’s just the reality of the NBA — even the great ones. It’s just part of it. In these moments, we have to lift _him_ up."
“We’re not pointing fingers,” Ty Jerome added. “We’re going to figure it out as a group. It’s an 82-game season and every single team has hit adversity along the way. It’s doesn’t surprise me that he said that. That’s who he is. You’re obviously not going to win or lose a game because of one player.”
Max Strus shared a similar viewpoint.
“That’s why Donovan is great,” Strus told cleveland.com. “One player can never lose us a game and he should never think that. But that’s why Donovan Mitchell is Donovan Mitchell. He expects greatness out of himself and everybody in this locker room expects greatness out of him too. Teams go through rough patches and teams go through struggles. I’m happy it’s happening right now instead of a month from now.
“We will bounce back. We have enough resiliency in this locker room and enough guys who want to be good for us to not figure it out.”
That includes Mitchell, the six-time All-Star and early-season MVP candidate who has lost his way during a rotten March that harkens back to a year ago when he was battling a painful knee injury that zapped his explosiveness and nearly wrecked his season
“With Donovan, it won’t last very long,” Atkinson said. “I’m pretty sure of that.”