The Cleveland Cavaliers just made a big statement in that win over the Orlando Magic.
They hit the ground running with a big lead in the first quarter and never took their foot off the gas.
Paolo Banchero went off for 42 points, and the talented Magic tried to put together runs, especially late in the game, but J.B. Bickerstaff’s team stayed calm and managed to weather the storm with ease.
With that in mind, star guard Donovan Mitchell wanted to put an emphasis on the fact that the Cavs cannot regress now that they’ve shown their best play by beating a divisional rival with one of the best records in the league (via Spencer Davies).
Overlying theme of the night for #Cavs? That was great, but now with the blueprint in front of them, there’s no reason to regress.
Donovan Mitchell on why he’s emphasizing that point. pic.twitter.com/ziX7yBWLIX
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) December 7, 2023
The Cavs have alternated great games with some duds this season, and that has led to some head-scratching losses.
Mitchell believes they played some of their best basketball as a group against the Magic, so now it’s all about staying consistent and proving that they can be that same kind of team night in and night out.
Notably, Mitchell has looked quite frustrated over the course of the season, and that’s a situation to keep an eye on, as he has refused to commit to signing a contract extension with the team.
Of course, it’s still early to speculate, but there have been multiple reports about him potentially walking away from The Land, which is why the Cavs could look to trade him before that happens.
That’s why it’ll be so crucial for the team to prove to him that they can compete at the highest level as well.
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