[Trief Mitchell: The curse of the Eastern Conference Finals in eight years has not been broken. The Cavaliers core sits alone on the bench after the game and interprets unwillingness to be unwill

On May 14, the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals staged a sad finale. The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Indiana Pacers 105-114 at home, and the series score was frozen 1-4, stopping outside the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth consecutive year. What is even more heartbreaking is that Donovan Mitchell, the star who fought with injuries for 37 minutes, returned to the stadium alone after the final whistle, wrote the most desolate footnote for this regret-filled night.

The fierce battle with injuries could not turn the tide

Mitchell, who was dragging his right knee injury, showed a painful look in the first quarter, but the iron-blooded guard still shot the game's highest 35 points 25 times, and contributed 9 rebounds, 4 steals and 1 block all-around data. Although his shooting percentage was only 32%, his 15-point explosion in the third quarter once ignited hope of reversal. When the Cavaliers fell 13 points in the last 3 minutes of the game, the camera captured the moment Mitchell bent down and supported his knees. The seven-time All-Star smashed heavily on the floor with his braces, venting his unwillingness to vent his heart on this site that witnessed countless glory.

Long farewell on the bench

According to the live report of the Cleveland Honesty People reporter Sam Amike, a shocking scene was staged after the game - Mitchell, who had completed the media interview, suddenly turned back, passed through the empty player passage alone, and sat silently at the end of the bench on the sidelines. In the photos leaked at the scene, the 27-year-old core defender lowered his head, his sweat-soaked jersey was pressed against his back, and his right hand unconsciously rubbed the seat with the Cavaliers logo. This moment of solitude that lasted for nearly 20 minutes seemed to be silently telling the ups and downs of eight years of career. The cruel reality revealed by the data website StatMuse is even more regrettable: since entering the league in 2017, Mitchell has maintained a 100% playoff attendance, but has never touched the district final floor. This embarrassing record makes him the first active player in NBA history to compete in the playoffs for the longest consecutive time but miss the division finals. Even though Tatum, who was as strong as entering the league during the same period, has appeared on the Eastern Conference Finals stage five times, Mitchell is still fighting against fate in Sisyphus style.

What will happen in the future? When the reporter asked whether to consider changing the environment, Mitchell just repeated "I need time to think". This summer, Cleveland's management will face a difficult choice: Should we reorganize the lineup around the super scorer who averages 29.3 points per game, or start the reconstruction chapter? The only thing that is certain is that the flames that have not yet been extinguished in Mitchell's eyes are still waiting for a chance to prove himself. As the live commentator sighed: "Some soldiers' medals are not on the trophy, but in those moments when they know they cannot do it. "