Atkinson knew the Cavs could be great when he took the coaching job last summer. But first, he needed to win over Mitchell.

Of Donovan Mitchell's 35 points, 30 came in the second half, while 20 came in the fourth quarter, in which he went six-for-six from the field

The Cavaliers found themselves in a familiar position down 14 to the Celtics in the third quarter Sunday, but unlike last spring's East semis, they did not back down -- thanks largely to the efforts of Donovan Mitchell,