The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to get out of the second round this past season, pushing past the roadblock of previous seasons.
But in the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland was swept by the New York Knicks, ending their magical run. However, the Cavaliers had chances to beat New York, especially in Game 1 when the team blew a 25-point lead late in the contest.
The Cavaliers never recovered from this collapse, seeing their season come to an end. Cleveland star Donovan Mitchell can only look back on Game 1 with a sense of "what-if", knowing that an opportunity was lost.
Mitchell opened up about the collapse in the conference finals while on Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter's podcast. The Cavaliers star admitted that fatigue could have been a factor in why the team was swept, but he also didn't want to make excuses.
"We had an opportunity to win Game 1, and we blew it…it's a tough hill. I can't ever say that it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I can't ever sit here and say, that was Game 1, we had three other games. But mentally, it's a tough hill to get over. If there ever in my nine years, going on 10, if there is ever a situation where you, like, want a game back, I think out of all of the games. It's Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals," Mitchell said.
The entire series against the Knicks flipped from that point on, with New York rolling over Cleveland in the final three games. Cleveland looked shell shocked toward the end of Game 1, with the Knicks riding an unbelievable comeback to victory.
If the Cavaliers had held on to win Game 1, the entire series may have been different. It would have put more pressure on the Knicks to reclaim home-court, making Game 2 a must win for them.
All Mitchell and the Cavaliers can do is put this series and this specific game in the rearview mirror while looking ahead to the upcoming season. Cleveland should again be a top team in the East, with Mitchell still leading the way.
But the Cavaliers also added some pieces that could help them be more competitive, hoping to get to the NBA Finals this season. Forward Peyton Watson comes into the rotation now, bringing his impressive defensive and three-point shooting skills.
The Cavaliers feel good about the chances this season, even with the East being stronger than ever. But the letdown from the playoffs last year still linger, and it could take some time for this group to get over how they lost.
