The Cleveland Cavaliers are struggling in the postseason, recording the most turnovers in eight games since 1996 with 141. Star guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are largely responsible for the team's offensive inefficiencies.
Key points
Cleveland Cavaliers have the most turnovers in eight postseason games since 1996
Total of 141 turnovers recorded by the Cavaliers
James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are key players in the offense
Cavaliers' offense has been described as inept at times
Team struggles with lapses in judgment and ill-advised passes
Cleveland's star backcourt is currently more costly than rewarding
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 01: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers react against the Toronto Raptors during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not exactly the type of notoriety one hopes for from their favorite basketball club. However, through eight games, it certainly has felt that the Cavaliers are their own worst enemy. Even in the games that they have persevered in, there have been long stretches of lapses in judgment and ill-advised passes.
With the way the Cavaliers currently run their offense, a lot of those possessions run through their two-star guards, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Both of which, to varying degrees, have been the main culprits as to why the turnover count is so high, and the offense looks so inept at times.
Q&A
What record are the Cleveland Cavaliers setting in the postseason?
The Cavaliers have the most turnovers through eight games of the postseason since 1996, totaling 141 turnovers.
Who are the star guards contributing to the Cavaliers' struggles?
James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are the star guards whose play has contributed to the Cavaliers' high turnover count and offensive issues.
How have the Cavaliers performed in the postseason so far?
The Cavaliers have faced significant challenges, often appearing to be their own worst enemy with lapses in judgment and poor passing.
What impact are turnovers having on the Cavaliers' playoff chances?
The high number of turnovers is making the postseason an uphill battle for the Cavaliers, hindering their chances of advancing.
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Donovan Mitchell, who is looking for another max extension this postseason, has frankly been far below what one would expect from a player who is the franchiseâs star. Mitchell, more times than not this postseason, looks like someone forcing the issue. What makes this jarring is that Mitchell, in the regular season, was fantastic, looking like someone who could erase a lot of the teamâs offensive woes with his ability to drop 30 points without even blinking.
Now that the defenses are scheming to neutralize him, Mitchell has looked about as mortal as we have seen him. Mitchell is shooting 44% from the field in the postseason, a nearly 5% drop in efficiency from the regular season. Itâs not just the stats that show Mitchell is playing worse; it is the simple eye test of game to game. It often appears like Mitchell is trying to figure out his spots in the postseason.
Mitchell is often seen settling for floaters or pull-up threes rather than using his elite athleticism to get to the rim and force the defense to collapse to meet him. This has neutralized part of what made Mitchell so dynamic. We are also seeing this affect him getting to the line. Mitchell is currently averaging two free throw attempts a game, as opposed to the regular season, where he was getting there six times a game.
The best players in the league know, in the postseason, that defenses aim to take away what you are good at â so when they take your fastball, what other pitches are in your arsenal? I think we are seeing that Mitchell, when met with the teamâs best defender, believes someone else has a more ideal matchup and attempts to play facilitator. Frankly, Mitchell, at best, is a slightly above-average playmaker when it comes to setting guys up. Thatâs why Mitchell is averaging nearly three turnovers a game.
Harden is the greater offender in this regard, currently contributing a nauseating 5.4 turnovers a game (43 total). With turnover numbers as high as eight turnovers in Game 3 against Toronto and seven turnovers in Game 1 against the Detroit Pistons, as well as Game 4 in Toronto.
This isnât a case of being unlucky â this is just sloppy play from one of the leagueâs premier distributors. Harden admitted as much after Game 1 against the Pistons.
At times with his turnovers, they looked almost so casual that it appeared someone had slipped a Xanax into his Gatorade. The lack of urgency and importance on every turnover was just one kick to the crotch after another to the Cavaliers as they clawed their way back to an almost improbable comeback against the Pistons.
Harden has more positives than negatives in the postseason. While Mitchell has fluctuated in his impact, Harden â despite shooting the team in the foot and making up almost a third of the teamâs turnovers in the postseason â has been a stabilizer on offense at his most efficient.
However, the issue with Harden is that when he is on the floor, he needs to be on the ball. Therefore, all of his impact is going to come from those on-ball opportunities, and right now, that comes with the lax nature of his turnovers. Time will tell whether Game 1 against Detroit was the wake-up call Harden needed to see that this team cannot overcome his lapses in judgment or sloppy ball handling.
The fact of the matter is that there is proof that Cleveland is talented enough to overcome their two best players faltering at the highest level. Cleveland is currently in the second round of the postseason with Mitchell and Harden not being at their best â something that would have sunk the prior iterations of the Cavaliers. The other guys are showing up to make up lost ground.
This makes the lack of Mitchell and sometimes Harden all the more torturous. If Clevelandâs star backcourt both showed up in a game, the Cavaliers might look nearly unstoppable. As of now, they look as frustrating as any team remaining in the postseason.
