CLEVELAND, Ohio — I believe Kenny Atkinson knows that even Superman needs an occasional break.
“We’ve had about two games where he’s not been Superman,” said the Cavs coach. “We need him to be Superman every night.”
Atkinson was talking about his All-Star guard, Donovan Mitchell.
Superman?
Mitchell has put on his cape and soared nearly every game this season, averaging a career-high 30.7 points. The nine-year veteran is shooting a career-best .506 from the field, and a second-best .382 from 3-point range.
Atkinson mentioned Superman after the Cavs’ 122-110 loss to Portland. That was Wednesday night, and it was their fourth loss in five games.
It isn’t just Atkinson putting pressure on Mitchell. The Cavs guard does that himself. He takes leadership seriously. He deeply cares about the team.
He knows with all the injuries and different lineups (12 in 23 games), it’s been hard for the Cavs to sustain any flow. The continuity they had a year ago is gone.
The temptation for a coach is to lean heavily on his star. And a classy star such as Mitchell wants to show he can guide the team through the stormy basketball seas.
But the truth is Mitchell is not Superman, nor should he be expected to fill that role.
He is playing 34.3 minutes per game, the second most of his career. It’s not just the number of minutes, but the effort required by Mitchell to deal with the double-teams and other physical defenses he’s facing.
If he continues at this pace, he will be exhausted by the playoffs. The Cavs need him healthy for the postseason.
Atkinson and the Cavs have to be aware of this. Now, they need to do something about it.
Cavs Coach Kenny Atkinson appreciates Donovan Mitchell’s commitment to the team and winning.John Kuntz, cleveland.comInjuries, but something else …
Guess what teams lead the NBA in 3-point shot attempts per game?
Since you’re reading a story about the Cavs, Cleveland is indeed the answer.
Guess where the Cavs rank in 3-point shooting?
Out of 30 NBA teams, the Cavs are number … 22.
First in attempts, 22nd in making them.
You don’t need to be a math major or a basketball coach to know this is a problem.
A huge problem.
Donovan Mitchell is carrying a heavy load this season.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.comSome basic math
A year ago, the Cavs ranked second in 3-point percentage, so it made sense for them to be No. 4 in 3-pointers attempted per game.
But this season, they are taking three more of those 3-point shots per game – and missing far more than a year ago.
There are too many times when the Cavs are ignoring open driving lanes and settling for 3-point shots. Doesn’t it drive you crazy when a Cavs player is within a few feet of the hoop – and fires a pass to an open teammate in the corner for a 3-point shot … which often bangs off the rim.
I know, analytics insists, “Three points are better than two.” They want high-volume 3-point shooting.
But my basic Benedictine math counters with, “Two points are better than none.”
This is not about going back to an era when teams were afraid to take 3-point shots. But now, they seem fearful of shooting from 2-point range within 5 feet of the basket.
FYI: Denver leads the NBA in scoring at 125 points per game, and the Nuggets are only 23rd in 3-point shots attempted.
A different year
This 13-10 Cavs team is not the same as the 64-18 model of a year ago.
They need to adapt to Darius Garland not being close to his All-Star point guard form of a year ago. He had major toe surgery. Never a strong defender, he is especially vulnerable in that area now. He simply isn’t as quick due to the toe injury.
Garland has played eight games, shooting exactly 34% from the field on 3-point shots. He is having problems driving past defenders to the rim. Some of this will improve with time, but it’s an issue now.
Jarrett Allen played all 82 games in 2024-25. He’s been out for eight so far, and it probably will be more because of a broken finger. That hurts the team defense. Sam Merrill has been in and out of the lineup with a hand injury.
On and on it goes.
The Cavs are becoming overly dependent on Mitchell. They are throwing him the ball … and watching him try to create a shot. The offense stops.
Atkinson stresses ball movement and player movement. It’s what made the Cavs so dynamic on offense a year ago, when they led the NBA in scoring.
The coach is integrating young players such as Nae’Quan Tomlin, Tyrese Proctor, Jaylon Tyson and Craig Porter Jr. into key roles. It’s a challenge for the coaching staff – and yes, for Mitchell.
The Cavs are 13-10. It’s been rocky, but the ship is not even close to sinking. But Atkinson and the players need to make some mid-course adjustments.