When you face the biggest player in the game and can beat him, you will, quite inevitably – talk trash. That is exactly what Donovan Mitchell did tonight as the Cleveland Cavaliers thump the Los Angeles Lakers at home. LeBron James was silenced in his home.
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Donovan was in scintillating form tonight. And the Cavs team realized they no longer have to face Anthony Davis, they turned the heat up.
The Lakers without their star man quickly felt the pressure, and despite valiant efforts from Russell Westbrook and Thomas Bryant, they failed.
However, it was all Donovan Mitchell. Nobody has dazzled at Cleveland like this since LeBron himself and the optimism in the air is rightly placed on the young star.
“Go the f**k home”: Donovan Mitchell channels his inner Michael Jordan
Much like how Michael Jordan celebrated emphatically when he drained “The Shot” and cried out “go home motherf**kers, go home“, Donovan Mitchell did exactly the same.
As the Cavs led the fourth quarter and “Spida” had the chance to hit the dagger, he screamed out “go the f**k home“. Ice cold.
Donovan Mitchell: “Go the f*ck home.” https://t.co/RYFqaThY9n
— ’ (@_Talkin_NBA) December 7, 2022
Even Myles Garrett was in awe of the shot.
Myles Garrett after Donovan Mitchell’s ️…pic.twitter.com/QZaxEBzI9x https://t.co/RYFqaThY9n
— ’ (@_Talkin_NBA) December 7, 2022
And that was not just it. Spida’s stat line tonight was a reminder he is still a star in this league. 43 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals to top it off. There was no stopping Mitchell.
Donovan Mitchell was unstoppable tonight
43 PTS
6 REB
5 AST
4 STL
62% FG
W pic.twitter.com/uPcPTJ8ETl— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 7, 2022
The Cavs are on a roll. They are 16-9 to start the season and are sitting pretty in 3rd place to start the season. They also hold a few records in the NBA.
Cavs this season:
— Best home record
— Best defensive rating
— Top 10 offensive rating
— Top 5 net rating pic.twitter.com/UsgOeqVN0h— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 7, 2022
The Lakers’ new leader is Anthony Davis, not LeBron James
On the other side of the coin, the story has pretty much flipped. Instead of relying on an aging LeBron James, the Lakers have gone all-in on the injury-prone Anthony Davis. And while much can be said about his brilliance over this season, tonight, he was ruled out.
LeBron also had his second-lowest scoring performance against the Cavs, one of his favorite opponents. And it is quite evident that he is past his prime.
LeBron James tonight:
21 Points
17 Rebounds
4 Assists pic.twitter.com/1LwCjo7mEh— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 7, 2022
Davis started the game but was taken off the game due to flu-like symptoms. Shame he couldn’t replicate Michael Jordan’s flu game.
Lakers’ Anthony Davis is out for remainder of game vs. Cavaliers due to flu-like symptoms.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 7, 2022
Tonight it is all Donovan though. The Spida is now a bonafide superhero. It is time we give him the respect he deserves. And if he asks you to “go the f**k home“, you do it politely.