Donovan Mitchell waited years for this moment, but the Cleveland Cavaliers star made it clear Sunday night that reaching the Eastern Conference finals was only part of the job.
After Cleveland’s 125-94 Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, Mitchell repeatedly stressed that the Cavaliers are not satisfied with simply ending the franchise’s conference finals drought.
“This is fantastic. I’m excited, believe me,” Mitchell said during his postgame interview. “But we got to be even more disciplined coming up.”
The Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018 after surviving consecutive seven-game series against Toronto and Detroit. Mitchell finished Game 7 with 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill added 23 points apiece.
Cleveland overwhelmed Detroit physically from the opening quarter. The Cavaliers outscored the Pistons 58-34 in the paint and held the top seed in the East to 35.3% shooting.
Mitchell said Cleveland learned from its Game 6 collapse, when Detroit forced the deciding game with a 115-94 road victory.
“I don’t want to say we got lackadaisical, but I think we kind of let our foot off the gas in Game 6,” Mitchell said. “We kind of expected the game to be handed to us. And that’s a learning lesson.”
The seven-time All-Star also pointed to Cleveland’s resilience after another emotionally draining series.
“The biggest thing was just continue to understand to keep trusting the process and trust the work,” Mitchell said. “Two Game 7s back to back definitely is a mental test. But that’s why you put the work in.”
Mitchell rejected the idea that finally reaching the conference finals changes how he views himself as a player or leader.
“Honestly, I don’t think anything’s changed,” Mitchell said. “I think I’ve been the same guy. I think as a leader, I’ve definitely grown, but it’s just about circumstance.”
He also referenced previous playoff disappointments and injuries that interrupted earlier postseason runs.
“You could do everything you want to do and sometimes it’s just not your time,” Mitchell said. “I’ve been close and then I had ankle injuries. I’ve been close and we failed.”
Cleveland’s offensive adjustment became obvious as the game progressed. Mitchell consistently attacked the middle of Detroit’s defense and created opportunities for Allen and Evan Mobley, who finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
“The thing we saw was the bigs were so lifted,” Mitchell said. “Now the drop-offs are there. Now you’re getting into the paint trying to find ways to create.”
Mitchell also praised Cleveland’s frontcourt for responding to outside criticism throughout the playoffs.
“The biggest thing is just the mental,” Mitchell said. “Everybody’s going to have something to say. What are you going to do mentally to push through?”
He specifically highlighted Allen and Mobley for elevating their level during the postseason.
“I’m really proud of them, really happy for them,” Mitchell said. “Because they continue to work and we know how good both of those guys are.”
The Cavaliers now move on to face the third-seeded New York Knicks, who swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round.
Mitchell expects another physical series against a Knicks team led by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
“They got a lot of talent,” Mitchell said. “It’s going to be a dog fight. It might have another Game 7.”
Mitchell closed the night with another reminder that Cleveland’s playoff run is not about moral victories.
“We didn’t just get here to be here,” Mitchell said.
