I feel unwilling! It s been 8 years, and the second round of the curse is still there. Mitchell returns to the stadium alone after the game, with a lonely expression

On May 14, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Indiana Pacers 105-114 at home, and were eliminated 1-4 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals for two consecutive years. In this game, the star Donovan Mitchell fought for 37 minutes with injuries, scored 35 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals on 8 of 25 shots, but he still couldn't break his fate of "the second round of the playoffs curse" in the 8-year playoffs. After the game, he returned to the stadium alone and sat on the bench for a long time and was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the season. Despite being troubled by an ankle injury, Mitchell still delivered luxurious data averaging 34.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals in this round of the series. In the G5 game, he stood up many times when the team was behind. At the end of the third quarter, he made two key three-pointers in a row, scoring 15 free throws and hitting all of them. However, when the game entered the decisive moment, Mitchell, who was physically overdrawn, was obviously unable to do so. In the last 5 minutes, he made 0 of 4 shots and made two fatal mistakes, watching the Pacers widen the gap. After the final whistle, the tough guy returned to the court alone from the locker room, and the photos of him sitting on the bench bowing his head and pondering quickly ignited social media. Mitchell, who is about to turn 29, is in the prime of his career. He also faces a difficult choice: whether to leave Cleveland is the only choice to break the second round of curse?

Looking back on Mitchell's career, since entering the league in 2017, he has been able to lead the team into the playoffs every year and demonstrates strong leadership skills. But unfortunately, he was never able to break through the bottleneck of the second round. During his five seasons with the Jazz, he and the team failed in the playoffs many times. After coming to the Cavaliers, I thought that a different environment would bring about changes, but I was eliminated in the Eastern Conference semi-finals for two consecutive years, making this spell heavier.

This season, Mitchell led the Cavaliers to an impressive record of 64 wins and 18 losses, ranking first in the Eastern Conference. The team showed strong dominance in the regular season, winning 15 consecutive victories twice, making fans look forward to the playoffs. However, reality hit them hard. During the series against the Pacers, the Cavaliers exposed many problems. Except for Mitchell, other players of the team were not stable enough at critical moments and had low offensive efficiency. On the defensive end, it is also impossible to effectively limit the Pacers' offense. Mitchell played with injuries in this game, showing his tenacious fighting spirit and desire for victory. In the first quarter of the game, he opened fire and scored 13 points in a single quarter, helping the team quickly establish a double-digit lead. But as the game progressed, his injuries gradually affected his performance. After a fall, he pounded the floor in pain, showing an unbearable expression on his face. Even so, he still insisted on the court. In the unfavorable situation of being overtaken by the Pacers in a single quarter in the second quarter, he did not retreat at all. In the second half, the Cavaliers' offense was in trouble, with only 20 points in the third quarter, while the Pacers scored a 33-pointer and overtaken the score in one fell swoop. Mitchell was obviously troubled by pain in this quarter and was blocked by a counterattack. He had no choice but to leave the field for treatment temporarily. But he only stayed in the locker room for a while before returning to the arena and continuing to fight for the team. In the last quarter, the Cavaliers once narrowed the gap to only 1 point, making the game full of suspense again. Mitchell's two three-pointers were like two shots, boosting the team's morale. However, the Pacers showed stronger resilience at critical moments, responded quickly, and opened the gap again. At this time, Mitchell was exhausted, holding his knees with both hands and gasping for breath, but he was still trying to find opportunities to try to help the team achieve a reversal. After the timeout, he hit a three-pointer again, creating three free throw opportunities. Unfortunately, he missed three free throws and missed the opportunity to narrow the gap. In the end, the Pacers' successive offense completely ruined the Cavaliers' hope. After the game, Mitchell sat alone on the bench with his eyes empty and lonely expression. His heart must be full of unwillingness and helplessness. For this game, he tried his best and fought with injuries, but he still could not change the fate of the team being eliminated. His future with the Cavaliers has become confusing. On the one hand, he has deep feelings for the city and the team, where he also has many fans who support him; on the other hand, he is eager to achieve higher achievements in his career and break the second round curse that has plagued him for many years. If you continue to stay with the Cavaliers, the team needs to adjust and optimize the lineup during the offseason to improve the team's overall strength, so that you can hope to go further in the future playoffs. But if he leaves, he will face the challenge of re-adapting to the new team and the new tactical system. For the Cavaliers, this failed season also sounded a wake-up call for them. The team needs to seriously reflect on the problems exposed in the playoffs. Whether it is the depth of the lineup, tactical arrangement, or the psychological quality of the players at critical moments, there is a lot of room for improvement. Only through targeted adjustments during the offseason can we make a comeback next season, providing Mitchell with stronger support and helping him break this terrible curse. And for Mitchell himself, we can only send deep blessings. I hope he can make the most suitable choice in the future. No matter where he is, he can continue to show his superstar style on the field, realize his dream of championship as soon as possible, and break the eight-year second round of the playoffs.