Latest news with #Cavaliers'
Mint
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Cavs president: ‘Have to get over the hump' after expectations reset
The Cleveland Cavaliers changed head coaches and saw a 16-game improvement in their regular-season record. In the end, the result was the same as the year before: a second-round exit from the playoffs. The Cavaliers' remarkable 64-18 regular season placed them in a spotlight they last enjoyed when LeBron James played for the team, and president of basketball operations Koby Altman knows that has invited title-level expectations. Altman met with reporters Monday, six days after the top-seeded Cavaliers' Game 5 loss to the Indiana Pacers eliminated them from the Eastern Conference semifinals. "I think we can all agree that coming into the season no one predicted us to be (the) No. 1 seed. I don't think anyone had 64 wins," Altman said. "Because we were so good we re-created the expectation of Finals. I think everyone in here saw potential champions, which is a new space for us. "We re-created the expectation and now we have to live with that. I think it's a space we want to live in and take that into the playoffs next year, knowing we're going to have to change that narrative, knowing that we have get over the hump." The idiom of getting over the hump was present throughout Altman's remarks. When asked if he's confident the current roster construction can win a title, Altman pointed to the team's young foundation, with All-Stars Darius Garland (25 years old) and Evan Mobley (turning 24 in June) supporting lead guard Donovan Mitchell. "Us figuring out our offensive identity happened this year and so I'm really high on and optimistic about our future," Altman said. "That being said, it can't just be 82 games. We have to figure out this next 16, we have to figure out how to get over the hump. But this group has shown they can play some of the best basketball in the world. It's how do we do it on the highest stage and continue to keep pushing to get over that hump?" Altman signaled a desire to keep together what he called Cleveland's "Core Four" of Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and center Jarrett Allen, who combined to average 76.6 points per game in the regular season. Allen also led the NBA in field goal percentage (70.6) and paced the Cavs at 9.7 rebounds per game while playing all 82 games. Altman did say, however, that the Cavaliers wouldn't be afraid to add pieces, even if it took them into luxury-tax or second-apron territory. Cleveland was one of the favorites to win the 2025 title once new coach Kenny Atkinson guided the team to a 15-0 start to the season and additional winning streaks of 12 and 16 games later in the season. The Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat before running into trouble against Indiana, despite some massive games from Mitchell. "This is Year 3 for the Core Four and they've had incredible success, right?" Altman said. "Playoff success needs to come next, but I think there's an internal belief because of what we proved this year during the regular season and what we're capable of to run it back and see what we can do. But it's not just running it back. It's another year of Kenny. "... There was a newness, a freshness this year. I know this is Year 3, but there's a newness, a freshness that we're going to take into next year having failed again in the playoffs and knowing how much that's going to hurt. And we're going to get over the hump. This group's going to get over the hump."
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'Y'all gonna say a lot of sh*t' — Donovan Mitchell makes heartbreaking admission after Cleveland Cavaliers' playoff elimination
Donovan Mitchell. Image via: David Richard-Imagn Images Donovan Mitchell did his best being in his A-game in Game 5, but individual performance alone can't propel a team to a victory. The Indiana Pacers have eliminated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, the Cavaliers' home ground. Post-game, Mitchell makes a heartbreaking admission about the defeat and how the potential narrative of their gameplay could circulate which he labeled as 'sh*t.' Donovan Mitchell breaks silence after crushing Cleveland Cavaliers defeat in playoffs After the devastating 114-105 defeat against the Indiana Pacers at the Rocket Arena on Tuesday, May 13th, the Cleveland Cavaliers fans were in disbelief to see their home team out of the playoffs. However, it was evident that the Pacers just needed one more win as they led the series 4-1. Still, it was heartbreaking for Donovan Mitchell, who gave his all in the game. Post-game, the Cavs' standout made an honest admission about the Game 5 loss and playoff exit. "We didn't get it done... especially at home. That's what hurts, you know?" Mitchell said. Mitchell didn't shy away from the harsh reality of their defeat. He shared that the loss would spark criticism from the media and fans alike. But instead of avoiding it, Mitchell embraced the idea that the outside noise could serve as motivation. Having been through tough playoff moments before, he revealed that the team understands what it takes and plans to channel the sting of this elimination into fuel for next season. "Getting beat down like this. And y'all are gonna write some sh*t about us, man, and that's gonna be fuel. Like, fuel for everybody. Y'all gonna say a lot of sh*t. Y'all are, and that's what it takes. I've been here, so I understand. We understand, and now we just got to use it as fuel for next year." He added, "Y'all gonna write us the f*ck off, be back." Also Read: Indiana Pacers knock off top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers as Tyrese Haliburton sparks stunning Eastern Conference Finals return Mitchell gave it everything he had in Game 5, finishing with 35 points in 37 minutes and 39 seconds of play. He shot just 8-of-25 from the field and went 4-of-13 from three, but stayed aggressive and got to the line 21 times, making 15 free throws. Mitchell also grabbed 9 rebounds, dished out 1 assist, and added 4 steals and a block. He committed 2 turnovers and picked up 2 fouls. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Fox Sports
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell experience same heartbreak in conference semifinals
Associated Press CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell thought this Cleveland Cavaliers team would be the one to get him to a conference final for the first time. Instead, this trip ended with the same heartbreak as his other three to this point in the playoffs. Mitchell started, played 38 minutes and scored 39 points despite a sprained left ankle, but it wasn't enough as the Indiana Pacers wore down the Cavaliers in the second half and eliminated the Eastern Conference's top seed 114-105 on Tuesday night. About 10 minutes after the game ended, Mitchell went back on the court at Rocket Arena and was still shocked over the sudden ending to the season. 'I just couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it. I still don't want to believe it," he said. The All-Star guard was questionable two hours before tipoff after he did not play the second half of the Cavaliers' 129-109 loss at Indiana on Sunday after he reaggravated the ankle injury. Mitchell provided an early clue about his status three hours before the game when he took to X with the Cavaliers' hashtag theme of #LetEmKnow. Coach Kenny Atkinson then said during his pregame availability that Mitchell participated in Tuesday morning's shootaround. All doubts were then put to rest when Mitchell came out for his usual pregame shooting routine less than an hour before tipoff. Mitchell didn't show any effects from the injury during the first quarter when he aggressively drove to the basket. Of his 13 points in the first 12 minutes, seven were at the foul line. However, Mitchell struggled from the field the entire game. He was 8 for 25, including 4 for 13 on 3-pointers. Mitchell was 15 of 21 at the foul line, but missed all three shots with 1:49 remaining and the Cavs trailing 106-100. He would make a 3-pointer on the ensuing trip down the floor to get Cleveland within three before the Pacers went on an 8-2 run to close the game. 'We just didn't get the job done. Nothing else needs to be said. … We let the city down. We let each other down," he said. The Cavaliers easily dispatched of Miami with a four-game sweep in the first round but could never find the answer against an Indiana squad that plays quick and wears teams down. Mitchell thought the decisive moment of the series came in Game 1, when Indiana went on a 15-4 run during the fourth quarter of a 121-112 victory. Cleveland was missing Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and De'Andre Hunter in Game 2, but blew a 20-point in the second half and lost 120-119. 'I think Game 1 set the tone. And obviously, guys are out for Game 2 and you're fighting an uphill battle,' said Mitchell, who averaged 34.2 points in the series and 29.6 in the postseason. "We had some mental lapses. You can't have that because you're fighting an uphill battle against a team with the fastest pace in history.' Cleveland was second in the league in the regular season with a 38.3% accuracy rate on 3-pointers, but was 29.4% against Indiana, including 9 for 35 on Tuesday night. 'The season was not a success in terms of where our goal was. Success would be going to the conference finals, but we didn't do that," Atkinson said. "Quite honestly, I expected more coming off the Miami series (a four-game sweep). Now, we've got to figure out the next piece.' It is the second time Mitchell has been on a top-seeded team that didn't make it to the conference finals. In 2021, Utah lost to the LA Clippers in six games. After going 64-18 in the regular season — which included three winning streaks of 12 games or more — Mitchell and the Cavaliers will ponder what might have been in what is an open chase for the NBA title this year. 'We have a window with this group. I believe in this team. That's what just (stinks). We're a good team, but ultimately for three games, we didn't seem it," Mitchell said. "There is going to be a long of talk (from media). We didn't capitalize, so everyone is going to write us off. It's, 'What are we going to do about it next year?'' 'Y'all are going to say a lot of (stuff). And that's what it takes. I've been here.' ___ AP NBA: recommended
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Haliburton shines as Pacers advance past top-seeded Cavs
Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 points as the Indiana Pacers came from behind to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 and send the top seeds tumbling out of the NBA playoffs on Tuesday. A flurry of six three-pointers from Haliburton helped Indiana wrap up a 4-1 series victory as the Cavaliers' promising season fizzled out in disappointing fashion on their home court. Advertisement Haliburton's scoring was backed by 21 points from Pascal Siakam while Aaron Nesmith contributed 13 points with 13 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard scored 18 points. Trailing 3-1 heading into Tuesday's game five, Cleveland looked ready to keep the series alive after surging into a 19-point lead midway through the second quarter at the Rocket Arena. But Haliburton sparked into life to drain five-of-five from three-point range in a 15-point second quarter to flip the script and slash Cleveland's advantage to just four points at 56-52 heading into halftime. The Pacers' scoring onslaught continued into the third quarter with the visitors outscoring Cleveland 33-20 to open up a commanding 85-76 lead as the fourth quarter got under way. Advertisement Cleveland threatened to rally in the final frame after 16 points from Donovan Mitchell, who was clearly still troubled by the sore left ankle that had threatened to rule him out of the contest. A Mitchell three-pointer closed the Indiana lead to one point at 98-97 with just over five minutes remaining. But the Cavaliers' failure to threaten from three-point range -- they managed to convert just nine-of-35 attempts from beyond the arc -- continued to be a problem and hopes of a comeback were snuffed out by the Pacers defense. Fourth-seeds Indiana will now meet either the Boston Celtics or arch-rivals the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, with the winner advancing to next month's NBA Finals. The Knicks lead the series with Boston 3-1 and can book a showdown with Indiana if they manage a victory over the Celtics on Wednesday. rcw/jgc
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'We've seen it done before' — Darius Garland drops motivational statement before Game 5 vs Indiana Pacers
With the Cleveland Cavaliers on the edge of Eastern Conference Semifinals , their point guard Darius Garland is trying to rally his team by preaching resilience. Down 3-1 playing against Indiana Pacers , Garland takes cue from Cavaliers' historic 2016 comeback. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With the team getting ready for Game 5 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, nothing is more important than the leadership and the belief of a turnaround of Garland. With Donovan Mitchell 's status being up in the air due to an ankle, Garland's position only becomes that much more vital in this must-win situation. Darius Garland channels 2016 Cavaliers spirit ahead of Game 5 showdown In the face of adversity, Darius Garland is invoking the Cleveland Cavaliers' storied past to inspire a present-day comeback. "This franchise has done it before," Garland stated, referencing the team's legendary 2016 Finals rally against the Golden State Warriors. "We've seen it done before. This group is always competing at a high level. It doesn't matter what circumstance it is. So, go out there with a chip on our shoulder and a lot of desperation. That's what we have to do. We've got to keep that in our mind and see where that goes." Darius Garland says Cleveland has comeback before 👀 Garland's confidence is backed by his performance. Despite a toe injury, he has returned to contribute significantly, scoring 21 points and providing six assists in Game 4. Throughout the 2024-25 regular season, Garland averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, and shot 47.2% from the field, including 40.1% from beyond the arc. The Cavaliers' challenge is compounded by Donovan Mitchell's uncertain status. Mitchell aggravated a left ankle injury in Game 4 and is listed as questionable for Game 5. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He participated in the team's shootaround on Tuesday morning, and his status will be a game-time decision. Game 5 is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The Cavaliers, who finished the regular season with a 64-18 record, are looking to avoid elimination and force a Game 6 back in Indiana. Also Read: At this crucial turning point in their playoff campaign, the support provided by the Darius Garland's leadership, and faith in himself and the team to prevail over a crisis, are key to the Cleveland Cavaliers' hopes. With the possible absence of Donovan Mitchell, Garland's game and motivational presence can be the spark that the Cavaliers need to extend the series and keep their championship dream a dream.
