Inside Donovan Mitchell’s sacrifice that has helped the Cavs become the NBA’s best team

On a floor studded with stars and future Hall of Famers, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Mobley had 33 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal in 43 minutes of two-way dominance. Mitchell — and other members of the Cavaliers organization — have touted Mobley’s unique skill set for years. But May 15 was an eye-opening glimpse into the future.

For Mobley. To Mitchell. To Cleveland.

Mitchell spent the next few weeks considering his next move, just as he does every offseason. Despite plenty of conjecture otherwise, he didn’t think about where he would go, already mentally agreeing to an extension with the Cavaliers months earlier. That was about how to help Cleveland get there.

Ultimately, Mitchell decided that an organizational leap required sacrifices. He had to take a step back so that others could step forward. Specifically Mobley.

“I want to win so badly and there’s a reason why I signed,” Mitchell told cleveland.com recently. “I saw it, and I see it on a daily basis, with Evan’s potential. It’s like, why not put yourself in that position to play with a guy that I think is going to be a top-five player in this league ?We know what JA (Jarrett Allen) can do. We’ve been All-Stars. We haven’t even scratched the surface with it him confidence.”

When Mitchell first met with Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson at the Four Seasons Westlake Village just outside Los Angeles in late June — a meeting where Atkinson used salt and pepper to depict where each player would be on the floor — they began two to brainstorm the best use for Mobley.

At the elbow or on the low block? Dunker spot or with distance to the perimeter? Pick-and-roll ball handler or screen-setter?

Months later, Atkinson, with the help of head assistant Johnnie Bryant, came back with a more detailed Mobley-centric plan that went well beyond sets and play calling. Atkinson wanted to stagger Mitchell’s and Mobley’s minutes by pulling both about midway through the first quarter and keeping them together for most of the game.

During Mitchell’s Utah days, he formed a deadly pick-and-roll partnership on the court with Rudy Gobert. Upon arriving in Cleveland, Allen becomes Mitchell’s primary pick-and-roll partner. Playing alongside a great like Mobley was new ground. Uncomfortable at first, the Cavs — and Mitchell — see the benefits of it.

Mitchell-Mobley is Cleveland’s second most used tandem. In 873 minutes combined, the Cavs have a 13.7 net rating. To put that in perspective, that’s higher than Boston’s Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Dallas’ Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic for the Nuggets, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, San Antonio’s Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama and just slightly lower than Oklahoma City’s dynamic guard duo — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.

In all, Mitchell has played just 192 total minutes without Mobley this season, while Mobley is logging just under four minutes per game. night without Mitchell. The two even do their pregame workouts at the same time. And when the early season rankings came out with a list of the league’s top power forwards, Mitchell made sure to bring it to Mobley’s attention, believing the phenom was underrated.

It’s all calculated.

“When I signed here, my first intention was for us to get the most out of Ev,” Mitchell said. “Never played with a guy like Ev. So how do we get the most out of that partnership? Saw that in that Boston series. He’s got the talent. It was more about him believing it on a nightly basis. I want him to to think, ‘I’m that guy.’ Now you surround him with a guy like myself and that makes it difficult for any defense. Just being on the floor with him allows him to play a certain way, it’s allowed me to grow as well. “

Mitchell is one of the league’s best players — a five-time All-Star with a max contract, countless individual accolades and annual MVP buzz.

So why was he so willing to make that adjustment for a mostly unproven youngster — and roster that didn’t look ready last spring?

“That was my growth,” Mitchell admitted. “When people ask, ‘What’s the next level? What are you working on?’ That’s what it takes. You don’t know what’s going to come out of it. That’s when you really have to sit down and ask yourself, ‘What do you want? How much do you want to win?’ ?’ When I say these things, I still want to be myself, but I understand when to pick the spot and be smart about it.

“It is not easy. But that’s what it takes. Everyone knows me as a scorer, but with this group it doesn’t have to be 30 every night. My job as a manager is to find out where I impact the game that night. How do I make winning bets? It’s about being able to embrace it, understand it and be okay with it – and I am.”

This is not a one man show. Mitchell has no more to do all for the Cavs to succeed.

He is averaging 23.3 points, his lowest since his rookie season in 2017-18. His field goal attempts are down and his usage rate is under 30 for the first time since that year. He has never been under 32 minutes per game – until this season. He’s second on the team in touches, sandwiched between Garland and Mobley — the two players he’s intentionally tried to elevate.

“Whatever it takes to win at a high level, that’s pretty much the role that’s needed for me. Must be able to delegate and allow guys to grow. Use this regular season like that. Because when the playoffs come, you know what time it is and what an opponent is going to do when guys are comfortable in this role because they’ve done it and they’ve been used this way and they’re strengthened throughout the regular season season? “

Cleveland’s diversity and unpredictability have helped the offense rise to the top of the NBA. The Cavs rank first in efficiency, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage, while also ranking third in 3-point makes and fifth in assists. It’s everything they’ve wanted and discussed since training camp — a high-speed, quick-passing, cut-heavy system that gets everyone involved and generates a high volume of 3s.

Last year, Mitchell — who played nearly 60% of Cleveland’s possessions at point guard due to injuries to Garland and Ty Jerome — missed too much time to qualify for the end of the season. He dragged the sore knee through the first round of the playoffs before missing the final two games against Boston.

The big plan has been to keep him fresher and ease his nightly playing responsibilities.

“It preserves you,” Mitchell said. “It allows you to be freer. Physically. Mentally. It’s having the confidence in the boys that I’m not playing as much and that we’re still able to push and get better. I think it’s been fantastic.”

The Cavs are a league-best 31-4, riding a 10-game winning streak and tied with the Golden State Warriors, who set the hallowed mark in 2015-16 with 73 wins. Cleveland ranks second in net rating and point differential and has already accomplished things that put it in the company of some of the league’s all-time greats — though players and coaches continue to downplay those regular-season accomplishments, pointing to the playoffs. as a test site.

Six players averaged double figures in scoring. Only five times has a player been the team’s leading scorer – or tied for the team lead – on back-to-back nights. Mitchell alone did it 14 times in 2023-24 – often out of necessity. Mobley and Garland can be All-Stars. Allen has been an unsung hero. Cleveland’s bench has become a strength. The offense is productive.

It all adds up to the Cavs being a legitimate title contender. None of that happens without Mitchell’s willingness to do less.

“Donovan is so selfless and he empowers people. (Steph Curry) is like this, too,” Atkinson said, referencing his time as an assistant with Curry’s Warriors before taking the Cleveland job. “They are so positive and they know how to uplift others around them.

“That’s the ultimate leader, isn’t it?”