Lima wrestles with why Cleveland fans seem relieved rather than energized after Mitchell's transcendent 39-point second half, landing on the idea that the LeBron era set an impossible standard this team will always be measured against. The real rival for this Cavs team isn't Detroit — it's their own history, and no amount of brilliance from Mitchell fully escapes that shadow. Lima also wonders if tonight's road game in Detroit could finally produce the kind of flashpoint moment that turns this into a genuine rivalry.
May 13, 2026
