Grading Cleveland Cavaliers starters through three games of action

Grading Cleveland Cavaliers starters: Donovan Mitchell, PG

In the absence of Darius Garland it has been Donovan Mitchell starting at point guard, and he has been absolutely sublime. He dropped 100 points in three games, a franchise record for the first three games of a season. He also became only the third player in NBA history to score 30 or more points in his first three games with a team. He can’t be stopped.

Hardly just a scorer, Mitchell has been chipping in from every angle. He is averaging career-high numbers in rebounds, assists, steals and 3-pointers. The Cavs have the league’s fifth-ranked offense, and with Garland out and Evan Mobley scuffling to start the year (more on him shortly) it’s being driven almost entirely by Mitchell. Yet the concerns with Mitchell, namely his defensive issues, have been minimized by his effort and intensity, and in the Cavs’ win over the Washington Wizards he earned the team’s “Junkyard Dog” chain for defensive effort.

The only thing holding Mitchell back are the turnovers. He has already committed 13 turnovers, tied for tenth in the league, including losing the ball twice in the final minute against the Wizards and forcing an overtime period, which the Cavs dominated.

Grade: A