3 key takeaways from Cavaliers’ dominant Game Two win

No. 3: Mitchell’s effectiveness as a distributor

After Donovan was the Cavs’ primary source of offense for much of Game 1, many wondered how he would handle Game 2.

On the one hand, he could come out looking to score 40+ points to lead the Cavaliers to a win. However, he chose a different approach that will be far more effective in the long run.

Mitchell decided in Game 2 to be more of a facilitator and get his teammates going. Mitchell attempted just 11 shots last night, which was far different than Game 1, where he attempted 14 shots in the first half alone.

Last night Mitchell set a career playoff-high with 13 assists while scoring just 17 points.

This strategy by Mitchell to get Garland and LeVert going was brilliant on his part, as he knows he needs their help on offense if Cleveland wants to get past New York and into the second round of the playoffs.

With Mitchell being one of only three essentially guaranteed rotation players with playoff experience, he can likely get his shot anytime he wants. But what good is scoring 35 or 40 points if it results in the Cavs losing?

Donovan wants his teammates to gain confidence in their ability, especially with the series shifting to New York, where a raucous crowd will await Cleveland.

This series is far from over, and we will see how the Cavaliers will fare on the road, where they certainly had their struggles in the regular season.

That said, Cleveland’s Game 2 performance should instill some confidence in their ability, and it is now a whole new series going into Game 3 on Friday night.