劲爆大瓜

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) 鈥� Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers won 64 games during the regular season, captured the top seed in the Eastern Conference and had two winning streaks of at least 15 games.

Mitchell, though, goes into the offseason feeling one thing.

Embarrassed.

That鈥檚 because, despite all the good things the Cavaliers did in the regular season, most people will remember Cleveland鈥檚 exit in the conference semifinals after being worn down by Indiana in five games.

Of the 28 times a team has won at least 64 regular-season games, the Cavs are only the fourth to not have reached at least the conference finals.

鈥淚 hope we all feel it, and I think we do. We lost 4-1. We were the one seed. It鈥檚 not like we were the eighth seed trying to beat the one seed,鈥� Mitchell said Wednesday morning. 鈥淒on鈥檛 run from this. It鈥檚 gonna be a loud summer and a lot of voices about what the Cavs are and what they should do. I鈥檝e been through a few of those. Use it as fuel. It鈥檚 the only thing we can do.鈥�

Mitchell鈥檚 comments came after not getting any sleep and watching replays of the twice. Cleveland had a 19-point lead in the second quarter but couldn鈥檛 sustain it as Indiana pulled within four at halftime and took control in the third quarter.

It was the second time in the series the Cavaliers squandered a big lead. They had a 20-point lead late in the third quarter of Game 2 before losing 120-119 on Tyrese Halliburton鈥檚 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left.

The biggest thing players pointed to that needs improvement is being mentally tougher in the playoffs.

After dominating Miami in a first-round sweep, the Cavaliers were outplayed on both ends of the court by the Pacers. Indiana dictated the pace and was more physical in the paint.

鈥淲e have to do it for longer. I feel like that was the name of the game for every game that we played during the series. I feel like we could have been more locked in mentally for longer, been more physical for longer,鈥� center Jarrett Allen said.

It also didn鈥檛 help that Cleveland went into the Indiana series hampered by injuries. Darius Garland missed the first two games due to an injury to his left big toe, while Evan Mobley and De鈥橝ndre Hunter were out for Game 2.

Coach Kenny Atkinson and his group prided themselves on their defensive intensity throughout the season. Still, Indiana averaged 117.6 points as its five-out offense created a lot of open shots.

Cleveland was one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league during the regular season, but had a 29.4% accuracy rate against the Pacers.

鈥淨uite honestly, I expected more coming off the Miami series. Now, we鈥檝e got to figure out the next piece,鈥� Atkinson said Tuesday night.

The good news for the Cavaliers is that the core of their roster is under contract. The bad news is that they are over both salary cap aprons, which would hamper them if they wanted to add another forward or center to the roster.

Before beginning his preparations for next season, Mitchell will take some time off where he said he鈥檚 鈥済oing on tour鈥� with 鈥済ood music.鈥�

This is Mitchell鈥檚 fourth time on a team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs but not further. He was part of Utah鈥檚 top-seeded run in 2021, which ended with the Jazz being eliminated by the Los Angeles Clippers in six games.

Mitchell pointed to Mobley, the NBA鈥檚 Defensive Player of the Year, who averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in the regular season, when asked if this team has more staying power.

鈥淗e鈥檚 continuing to grow. He鈥檚 a guy that next year coming in is going to be even more important, even more crucial. Trying to get him to be even more aggressive,鈥� Mitchell said.

Center Tristan Thompson 鈥� part of the Cavs' 2016 NBA championship team 鈥� thinks the Cavs will be in the right frame of mind when training camp begins in September.

鈥淵ou got to starve before you eat. We understand that. Guys across the board have that feeling,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got some hungry (expletive), so I know they鈥檙e going to do whatever they can this summer to get themselves right because we have some work to do.鈥�

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AP NBA:

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press