Three thoughts on a wild night in the NBA, starting with Donovan Mitchell going off for 71 points in an overtime win over the Bulls …
1. The Cavs Look Like Geniuses
O.K., I guess you could say I look like a genius, too, because I was a huge fan of the Donovan Mitchell trade for Cleveland. It’s not only that the Cavaliers acquired one of the game’s great scorers and a top-25 player before he’s even entered his prime. It’s that Mitchell solves the exact problem that plagued Cleveland down the stretch of last season. When the Cavs didn‘t make it out of the play-in last season, it was glaring how desperately the team lacked a creator and scorer next to Darius Garland. Obviously every team could use a scorer of Mitchell’s talent, but the Cavs—as an already capable team—were particularly desperate for more scoring punch. Garland struggled last year when he was called upon to create for himself over and over again late in games, especially as defenses loaded up on him. It would be a Herculean task for anyone, and it’s not Garland’s strength to play that style of basketball.
