Slowing Donovan Mitchell A Priority For Miami Heat Tonight Against Cavaliers
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has started the season right where he left off.
THE NUMBERS
He is averaging 27.6 points, five rebounds, and five assists. The Cavaliers are in eighth place in the East with a 12-9 record.
Mitchell has averaged 22.9 points, four assists, and three rebounds in 14 games versus the Miami Heat in his career. He scored 42 points in their last matchup, but they have done a solid job keeping him under control besides that.
The previous games were 18 points, 16, 13, and 22. Mitchell is taking 21.2 field goal attempts a game, tied for third with Joel Embiid. So far this season, 66.7 percent of Mitchell's baskets are unassisted. He takes about six attempts in the restricted area per game.
He will make it a mission to pressure the Heat defense by getting downhill. Forcing the ball out of his hands could keep him out of the paint. Former Heat guard Max Strus is Mitchell's favorite passing target. He's assisted Strus 21 times. The average shot-make distance on those assists is 20.2 feet, meaning it's usually a 3-pointer. Evan Mobley is second with 17 while Caris LeVert is third (12).
Mitchell has two 40-point games, which helps him ranks ninth in scoring. He has missed five games because of hamstring soreness. It obviously hasn't slowed him much because Mitchell continues to play like an elite player.
Devin Brown is a contributing writer to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at dbrwnjr@gmail.com or Twitter @dbrwnjr.
