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TORONTO — Cavaliers star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden began their playoff tenure together on a high note, as Cleveland's new-look duo appeared to be a dynamic fit in Games 1 and 2.
But at least to this point, none of that chemistry traveled North of the border.
While the Cavs rely on several key pieces to the lineup and rotation, Mitchell and Harden are the engine that drives Cleveland's playoff chances, especially on the offensive end of the floor.
The Cavs needed a work-of-art masterpiece from their backcourt tandem. The picture they got in Games 3 and 4 wouldn't even be worthy of pinning to the fridge at home.
The Cavaliers struggled through a disastrous offensive performance in their Game 4 loss April 26, which tied the series 2-2 leading into a now-crucial Game 5 at Rocket Arena on April 29.
Mitchell hit only six of his 24 shot attempts, a near-impossible reality for one of the top 10 scorers in the league. He also committed four turnovers and was involved in a devastatingly important 8-second violation in the final 40 seconds, which happened to be the last time the Cavs would hold the lead. Mitchell went on to miss a floater and a 3-point attempt the rest of the way.
"[The offensive flow] was there [in Games] 1 and 2. It's not like it hasn't been there before, right?" Mitchell said. "But at the end of the day, when we do get it to that point, we got to close out the game, I've just got to be better. We got to be better. That's why the ball's in my hands, right?"
Harden committed seven turnovers after being hit for eight turnovers in Game 3. He was applauded for always putting passes right on the money like prime Bob Feller after the Cavs' Game 2 win, and then in Toronto turned the ball over 15 times, never looking comfortable with the Raptors' defense swarming him.
"Definitely mental. The game of basketball is mental," Harden said, discussing the difference between home and road playoff games. "You've got to, obviously when things are going crazy, the crowd's going crazy, they make a run, we make a run, you still got to focus on the task at hand and what you're supposed to be doing."
The Cavs led by eight points with under five minutes remaining in Game 4. At that point, the series was just about in hand, as they were only a few positive plays away from a 3-1 lead. Those are some of the moments when the Cavs know they need to rely on Mitchell and Harden the most. But in Game 4 — and really both games in Toronto — Cleveland struggled to close. The Raptors finished the first half on a 10-0 run and then controlled the final few minutes of the second half.
And a collapse down the stretch guarantees another game in Toronto (Game 6) and has the series tied with 100 percent of the momentum now swung the Raptors' way.
"They're trying to speed us up. I think they are speeding us up," said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. "So we'll look at it, we'll get better at it. But credit to them, that's what they've done all year. They're a team that turns others over, right? That's their strength.
"So we got to help James. I got to help James."
When asked if he felt like this was a missed opportunity in Toronto, Mitchell and Harden separately both had the exact same answer: "One thousand percent."
If the Cavs are to regain control of a runaway train of a first-round series, they'll likely need their backcourt duo at the controls.
Mitchell's final words of his post-game press conference were apropos, though it could also be extended to Harden: "It's on me."
Ryan Lewis covers the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs guards Donovan Mitchell, James Harden falter in Toronto
Continue reading...
But at least to this point, none of that chemistry traveled North of the border.
While the Cavs rely on several key pieces to the lineup and rotation, Mitchell and Harden are the engine that drives Cleveland's playoff chances, especially on the offensive end of the floor.
The Cavs needed a work-of-art masterpiece from their backcourt tandem. The picture they got in Games 3 and 4 wouldn't even be worthy of pinning to the fridge at home.
The Cavaliers struggled through a disastrous offensive performance in their Game 4 loss April 26, which tied the series 2-2 leading into a now-crucial Game 5 at Rocket Arena on April 29.
Donovan Mitchell, James Harden playoff stats
Mitchell hit only six of his 24 shot attempts, a near-impossible reality for one of the top 10 scorers in the league. He also committed four turnovers and was involved in a devastatingly important 8-second violation in the final 40 seconds, which happened to be the last time the Cavs would hold the lead. Mitchell went on to miss a floater and a 3-point attempt the rest of the way.
"[The offensive flow] was there [in Games] 1 and 2. It's not like it hasn't been there before, right?" Mitchell said. "But at the end of the day, when we do get it to that point, we got to close out the game, I've just got to be better. We got to be better. That's why the ball's in my hands, right?"
Harden committed seven turnovers after being hit for eight turnovers in Game 3. He was applauded for always putting passes right on the money like prime Bob Feller after the Cavs' Game 2 win, and then in Toronto turned the ball over 15 times, never looking comfortable with the Raptors' defense swarming him.
"Definitely mental. The game of basketball is mental," Harden said, discussing the difference between home and road playoff games. "You've got to, obviously when things are going crazy, the crowd's going crazy, they make a run, we make a run, you still got to focus on the task at hand and what you're supposed to be doing."
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Cavaliers vs Raptors playoff stats
The Cavs led by eight points with under five minutes remaining in Game 4. At that point, the series was just about in hand, as they were only a few positive plays away from a 3-1 lead. Those are some of the moments when the Cavs know they need to rely on Mitchell and Harden the most. But in Game 4 — and really both games in Toronto — Cleveland struggled to close. The Raptors finished the first half on a 10-0 run and then controlled the final few minutes of the second half.
And a collapse down the stretch guarantees another game in Toronto (Game 6) and has the series tied with 100 percent of the momentum now swung the Raptors' way.
"They're trying to speed us up. I think they are speeding us up," said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. "So we'll look at it, we'll get better at it. But credit to them, that's what they've done all year. They're a team that turns others over, right? That's their strength.
"So we got to help James. I got to help James."
When asked if he felt like this was a missed opportunity in Toronto, Mitchell and Harden separately both had the exact same answer: "One thousand percent."
If the Cavs are to regain control of a runaway train of a first-round series, they'll likely need their backcourt duo at the controls.
Mitchell's final words of his post-game press conference were apropos, though it could also be extended to Harden: "It's on me."
Ryan Lewis covers the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs guards Donovan Mitchell, James Harden falter in Toronto
Continue reading...
