Details Still Hold Back the Cavs, Mitchell: “We Don’t Know Who We Are”

Encouraging signs are there, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are still not where they want to be. The 114-110 home loss to the Detroit Pistons comes at a time when the roster is closer to full health and recent performances had hinted at a positive trend. That’s precisely why this stumble hurts even more.

Donovan Mitchell, the team’s emotional and on-court leader, didn’t mince words after the game, emphasizing a key concept: talent alone isn’t enough if consistency is missing.

We have the talent, we have the ability. Now we have to show it on the floor. The problem is games like this stop you. The path isn’t linear, there will be obstacles, but we have to be consistent.

Donovan Mitchell

A Recurring Issue

Cleveland opened the game with the right defensive approach, only to collapse in the second quarter, giving up 47 points to Detroit. The momentum shift was driven largely by Daniss Jenkins, who scored 21 points in the period, many of them stemming from defensive breakdowns and poor communication by the Cavs.

Mitchell didn’t look for excuses. Instead, he pointed directly at those details that, against aggressive teams, end up making all the difference:

Some of those baskets came straight from our mistakes. That’s nine points we gave away. Those things kill you.

Donovan Mitchell

Perhaps the most concerning aspect isn’t the result itself, but the feeling that Cleveland loses too often its identity. Mitchell said it plainly, contrasting the Pistons’ approach with that of the Cavs.

Detroit knows who they are every night. Sometimes, we don’t. We’re a team that should start with defense and run in transition.

Donovan Mitchell

And yet, the foundation is there: Evan Mobley finished with four blocks, physicality wasn’t lacking, and the late comeback – from 13 down to within a few possessions – showed the group doesn’t quit. But even then, a missed box-out on Ausar Thompson extinguished any remaining hopes.

Atkinson: “Detroit Was the Better Team”

Kenny Atkinson was equally clear-eyed in his assessment, acknowledging the opponent’s merits without hiding his team’s shortcomings.

We fought until the end, but we were never really in control. Detroit had the lead for most of the game and deserved to win.

Kenny Atkinson

The coach also admitted that struggles during stretches without some of the team’s stars on the floor are becoming a structural issue, particularly in second quarters, where the rotations have had trouble holding up.

Real Growth, but Not Enough Yet

Despite the disappointment, there remains a belief in the Cavs’ locker room that the direction is the right one. Sam Merrill summed it up this way:

We know we’re not at the level we want to be yet, but we’re starting to play the way we know how. There are ups and downs – that’s part of the season.

Sam Merrill

Mitchell, however, isn’t lowering the bar. Growth must be solidified, not just shown in flashes.

We are improving, yes. But it’s not enough to say it – we have to keep hammering these concepts.

Donovan Mitchell

Cleveland is moving in the right direction, but nights like this are a reminder that the next step forward comes down to the details. And as long as those details keep slipping away, wins remain just out of reach.