CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs have a Donovan Mitchell problem. Not with his performance, but with their dangerous overdependence on him.
The latest episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast exposes the contradictory messaging and unsustainable strategy that could burn out their star before the games that truly matter.
Following Cleveland’s disappointing loss to Portland, podcast host Ethan Sands highlighted the troubling mixed messages coming from the coaching staff about Mitchell’s workload.
“Pregame, he said and admitted he does not want Donovan Mitchell to sustain this level of play for the entire 82-game season,” podcast host Ethan Sands recalled. “But then Kenny Atkinson comes into the post-game press conference and goes, ‘We need him to be Superman every night, quite honestly.’”
This approach is potentially damaging to both Mitchell and the team’s championship aspirations.
Chris Fedor didn’t hold back in criticizing the notion that the Cavs needed a heroic performance from their star against a struggling opponent.
“They should not need Superman, Donovan Mitchell against the now nine-win Portland Trail Blazers who are playing on the second night of a back-to-back,” Fedor stated emphatically. “Not for this team, not for a team that has championship aspirations.”
The podcast discussion reveals a troubling pattern: Mitchell being forced to carry an unreasonable burden while his supporting cast consistently underperforms.
Despite the Cavaliers’ depth and talent, Mitchell often finds himself in the same position that led to his playoff injury over the last two seasons — needing to do everything for the team to have a chance.
“So much is falling on Donovan. So much is falling on Evan and both of these guys. Donovan in particular, just needs more help from these guys who are supposed to be there to help him,” Fedor explained. “They’re supposed to take the pressure off of him. They’re supposed to provide a scoring punch … And De’Andre and Darius tonight against Portland and really, for a large chunk of the season, they haven’t been good enough.”
The statistics tell the story.
Against Portland, the Cavaliers lost in nearly every statistical category: rebounding, free throw attempts, second-chance points, fast break points, assists, bench points, and made threes. They trailed for 34 minutes against a team playing the second night of a back-to-back — exactly the kind of game where the supporting cast should step up so Mitchell doesn’t have to play hero.
Particularly concerning is the performance of Darius Garland, who went just 2-of-13 from the field and 1-of-8 from 3-point range in the Portland game.
As Fedor noted, since Garland’s return from injury, he’s had perhaps two games where he was a positive for the team — not nearly enough for someone who’s supposed to be Mitchell’s co-star.
The podcast discussion raises an urgent question: How can the Cavaliers expect to compete in the playoffs if they’re already forcing Mitchell into superhero mode against lesser teams in December?
For fans concerned about the Cavaliers’ long-term viability as contenders, this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast provides essential listening. Hear Fedor and Sands break down exactly why the Cavs’ “Superman strategy” is unsustainable and what needs to change before it’s too late.
Here’s the podcast for this week: