Donovan Mitchell Telling LeBron To "Go The Fuck Home" Wasn't Just A Message To Him But The Entire NBA
With about about 3:30 left in the 4th quarter and the Cavs on a 18-6 run, Donovan Mitchell rocked Austin Reaves to sleep and then hit a step-back 27 footer in his face.
As he walked down the court he gestured towards the exits and said, "Go home. Go the fuck home."
It wasn't just a message to LeBron and the Lakers, it was a message to the entire NBA. This is his house now.
This was a bigger moment than many outside the city will realize. The Cavs own the NBA's best home record at 11-1. A distinction that happened frequently during LeBron's two tenures in Cleveland. Rocket Mortgage Field House is a lion's den when the team is good. But this win was more than just another home dub, it was a passing of the torch.
Every time LeBron comes home it will be a special occasion. The game is sold out, the team plays a tribute video, LeBron stans put away their Yankees jerseys for the night and throw on their Lakers gear, and the King wins going away. At least thats how it used to be.
Last night was like being being out with your new girlfriend while she's looking fine as hell and running into your ex. And for the first time it didn't bother you at all. Cleveland has officially moved on.
You can scoff at a win over the Lakers who started this season looking like the biggest joke in the NBA. But they had won 8 of their last 10 and were a respectable 4-6 on the road. Anthony Davis was playing like the best player in the league and they were starting to gain confidence.
None of that mattered when Spida took the court though. For years we have seen Cavs teams cower when LeBron walks back into his old house. They find themselves watching with their dicks in their hands as the crowd oohs and ahhs after LeBron rumbles down the lane and throws down a ferocious dunk. Hell, it happened again last night just 43 seconds into the game.
But the attitude, confidence, and poise of Donovan Mitchell makes this a completely different basketball team. One that doesn't just have hopes of making the playoffs but making a deep run once they get there. One that is placing a stamp on the Eastern Conference. One that is ready to compete with the big boys.
I know Utah fans are sick seeing Mitchell take his game to a completely new level in Cleveland. But can you blame the guy? Utah's most well known culinary export is some disgusting green jello concoction. He was probably malnourished and mentally exhausted from trying to memorize all 26 of his neighbor's kids names.
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If you thought he Cavs were an early season fluke the way the Kings or Jazz have been I have bad news for you. Every metric points to them being a top tier team. Well over a quarter of the way through the season they are the best defensive team in the league and top 5 in net rating. What is ever scarier is the fact that they still have the assets to improve at the trade deadline.
Caris LeVert, who on most nights looks like he has never dribbled a basketball in his life, is still an $18.7 Million expiring contract. For the right deal even Kevin Love, who is a $29 Million expiring contract, might be available. Though they would love to keep that handsome salt and pepper bearded, jump shooting bastard if they could. It would have to be a deal that knocked their socks off to ship Kevin out of town.
A rebuilding team might see Isaac Okoro as an intriguing piece. He is only 21 years old and has shown elite defensive ability. Unfortunately for the Cavs, they don't have the time to wait for him to look like more than a G-League guy on offense, but someone else will.
The Celtics are on a historically insane offensive tear and the Bucks have the best player on the planet. And right behind them is the Cavs with an average age that is over three years younger than the Bucks and a full year younger than the Celtics. Their core of Mobley, Garland, Allen, and Mitchell are 21, 22, 24, and 26 respectively. That sounds more like Leonardo DiCaprio's dating history than a top 5 NBA squad.
So whether you like it or not the Cavs are here. And it's time to put some respeck on the their name.