Kenny Atkinson gets honest about how Donovan Mitchell’s carry job with the Cavaliers originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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After a long time of aiming for the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers have gotten past the second round. They will be playing against the New York Knicks, the most in-form team outside the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Cavs beat the Detroit Pistons in a lopsided Game 7, which was down to awesome performances from Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and the rest of the team. It has been a rollercoaster season, but Mitchell has always been present as the Cavs’ star player.
Kenny Atkinson shows his appreciation for Donovan Mitchell
Since getting traded to the Cavaliers in 2022, Mitchell has embraced a starring role as the best player and vocal leader. That can be a tough balance to strike, but Mitchell has done well in his role as the face of the franchise.
He has an excellent supporting cast with Allen, former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, and former MVP James Harden. Despite the quality of his teammates, head coach Kenny Atkinson wants to keep putting the spotlight on Mitchell.
MORE: The final score between the Cavaliers and Pistons’ Game 7 matchup
The Cavaliers were preseason favorites alongside their ECF opponents, the Knicks. Unfortunately, the Cavs had a rough season filled with injuries.
Mitchell was the consistent figure for the Cavaliers, and Atkinson has nothing but appreciation for that. The multi-time All-Star played 70 games, averaging 27.9 points a night.
“He was better than Donovan Mitchell, is that possible? It started with him. His defense, rebounding, he gets in the paint, and starts making other people better… That was the key to the game; he had complete control of the game,” Atkinson said about Mitchell’s impact.
“He kept this thing together this year, when things weren’t going great. He was the beacon, the light; his leadership carried us on the court.”
Mitchell will now be playing in his first-ever Conference Finals. He came close with both the Utah Jazz and the Cavs, but it seems he will be looking to grab this opportunity and try to go further, and play in the NBA Finals.
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- How James Harden has the opportunity to keep redeeming himself from past postseason runs
- How the Cavs’ ownership keeps helping the fans get to postseason games on the road