The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently battling the Boston Celtics in hopes of making it to the Eastern Conference Finals. They are down 1-2 in the series and have been struggling to light up their offense. Boston’s defense has been deadly, and it is causing serious problems for the Cavs.
As of right now Cleveland has been leaning on Donovan Mitchell. He is their main provider of points this season and in the postseason. They are without their starting center Jarrett Allen which has led to a lot of defensive problems and a lack of scoring in the paint. Furthermore, The rest of the starters are having lackluster performances leaving the Cavs to have low scoring nights.
Major Game Time Decision for Starting SG
https://gty.im/1918194119
Mitchell is leading the Cavaliers in scoring with 29.6 points per game. He is also leading them in steals with 1.3 per game. The shooting guard has been the number one presence on offense and a key player on the defensive end with Allen sidelined. Without Mitchell on the court the team is 12-15 proving how critical his presence is.
The Cavaliers recently announced that Donovan Mitchell is going to be a game time decision due to a calf injury. He was also not seen at Monday’s shoot around leaving many fans nervous about his status. They certainly don’t want to be the second team in a row that Boston beats with a gentlman’s sweep.
Cavaliers Game Plan Without Mitchell
https://gty.im/1245237343
With the Boston Celtics coming off a strong performance on Saturday, Cleveland should be very worried about going down 1-3 in the series. Without Mitchell, the Cs have one less thing to worry about when they’re playing defense. It will be up to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to figure out the right game plan against this hot team.
Since Allen has been injured, Darius Garland has become the number two option on the offensive end. Unfortunately, his stats haven’t been great. He’s been struggling to score and has a good chunk of turnovers through the two series. He is actually averaging 2.3 turnovers a game which would be fine if he provided his team with a decent number of points.
The role players of this team will have to be present on Monday night. There can’t be a single starter who isn’t getting 10+ points or this team is going to fall apart. Max Strus can’t have another six-point game if Mitchell isn’t going to play. Cavaliers need to hit their threes and find a way to get by Boston’s tough defense.
Can Cleveland Get the Win With No Mitchell?
https://gty.im/1918192206
How do the Cavaliers win this game if Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell are on the bench? The short answer: a miracle. The long answer would be if Strus, Garland, and Evan Mobley pull out big numbers. Also, they would need the Celtics to shoot terribly from three. This could happen as Boston tends to have games where they just can’t hit, but it’s unlikely for them to have a repeat game two performance.
If the Cavaliers offense can’t answer the call, they’ll have to hope their defense can get them the win. This will include stopping the dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown while also hoping Derrick White doesn’t show up as prime-time MJ. They’ll also need to shut down the bench duo of Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser, who can knock down five threes in a row any given night.
Tonight will be a tough one for Cleveland. They need to get the early lead, and they can’t allow any big surges from the Celtics. The key will be getting back on defense in a timely manner so Boston doesn’t get a bunch of fastbreak points. This is a game the Cavaliers can win without Mitchell, but it will take a lot from their players to get the job done.
About the Author
Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
