NEW ORLEANS — Donovan Mitchell was going to sound off two nights ago.
But he bit his tongue, not wanting to take attention away from Darius Garland following a fourth-quarter masterpiece and thrilling finish.
Wednesday night in New Orleans, Mitchell reached a breaking point — even after a record-breaking 131-122 win over the New Orleans Pelicans that pushed Cleveland’s record to 9-0, the only remaining unbeaten team. He couldn’t hold back anymore, devoting a chunk of his postgame press conference to calling out NBA officials, using stats to support his complaints.
“We’re second in the league in drives per game and we’re not getting any foul calls,” Mitchell said passionately — and accurately. “I’ve been quiet about it for a long time. Tonight, I almost lost my mind out there. D.G. had no free throws. I had six. Four late in the game. J.A. (Jarrett Allen) had two. Ev (Evan Mobley) had (three). For us to be the team that we are, to drive and not get foul calls, it’s crazy.
“The refereeing has been so inconsistent, especially against us. There needs to be consistency. I’m proud of the way we were fighting through it, and I told my guys I was going to be the one to say something about it, don’t even complain, but it’s getting out of hand, it’s getting crazy. They need to tighten up. I’m probably going to get fined for it. But it’s outrageous.”
The numbers show Mitchell may have a legitimate beef.
According to internal team tracking data, the Cavs have the league’s lowest percentage of fouls called on their drives despite ranking second in drives per game, trailing just the Oklahoma City Thunder in that category. Cleveland is 26th in free throw attempts per game, with Mitchell averaging a career-low 3.6. Only once has he finished under 4.0 per game — his rookie season in Utah. Garland, who ranks top 15 in total drives, is averaging a miniscule 1.6 freebies.
“Sounds about right,” one player said when that Garland-specific stat was brought up.
So, does Mitchell have a theory on why the attack-the-paint Cavaliers don’t get a more friendly whistle?
“I don’t know,” he replied. “But the stats are there. I didn’t want to come out here and not be factual. We are a team that is getting into the paint. It’s not just myself. It’s us as a collective. Trying to finish, getting hit, different things, eight different guys had blood on us tonight but we’re not getting no fouls called in our favor. It’s been multiple games now. For me, that’s part of my game. If I’m getting knocked off my line, that’s a foul. I mean, tonight it was a foul for Zion (Williamson) or whoever. Where’s the consistency?”
Mitchell understands his role as team leader. He recognizes his voice booms the loudest. It was clear that no matter what questions came his way, he wasn’t leaving Smoothie King Center without saying something about the officiating, especially on a night when the free-throw disparity was 28-13 in favor of New Orleans and Cleveland’s two bigs — Mobley and Allen — dealt with foul trouble throughout. Monday was the first time in 207 regular season games that Mobley got disqualified.
In Mitchell’s eyes, repeated drives to the rim were only rewarded for one team.
“Evan Mobley comes down on an alley-oop and almost rolls his ankle. There’s no foul called,” Mitchell explained. “If Evan rolls his ankle, he is out. There’s no consistency.”
The burly Williamson made 13 trips to the stripe, matching Cleveland’s total. It was the fifth time this season the free-throw outcome was either equal to or in favor of the opponent. Earlier this season, the Cavs were minus-25 in a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers — a game that led to murmurs throughout the Cleveland locker room.
Those same gripes were loud and clear late Wednesday.
“We’re playing against these teams that are getting tick-tack calls,” Mitchell said. “Tonight, I don’t even know when the first foul was called in the second half.
“There needs to be consistency.”