Donovan Mitchell Takes Blame for Cavaliers' 4th Straight Loss

Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell has taken full responsibility for the team's recent struggles, including a fourth consecutive loss to the Phoenix Suns. Despite leading the Eastern Conference with a strong record, the Cavs have faltered since a franchise-best 16-game winning streak, and Mitchell's performance has notably declined, averaging just 17.9 points and shooting 29.2% in his last five games. Following a season-low seven-point outing against the Suns, Mitchell stated, "Put this on me. When your leader ain't doing [expletive], this is what happens," emphasizing the need for him to improve. Although he acknowledged the team's defensive lapses, he pointed to his own shortcomings as a key factor in the recent losses. His head coach, Kenny Atkinson, also noted that the team has struggled with defense and rebounding, indicating that the issues go beyond Mitchell alone. Teammate Evan Mobley echoed this sentiment, stressing that the entire team must elevate their performance to turn things around.