This year was supposed to be different. It wasn’t. The top-seeded Cavs were eliminated from the playoffs in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second straight season. This time, by the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers in a 114-105 Game 5 loss.

Cleveland Cavaliers exit NBA Playoffs, waste 35 points from injured Donovan Mitchell in Game 5 loss to Indiana Pacers.

Donovan Mitchell missed the second half of the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers after what the team announced as a left ankle injury. It was a gut punch to what was an embarrassing loss for the top-seeded Cavaliers.

De’Andre Hunter (thumb), Evan Mobley (ankle) and Darius Garland (toe) continue to battle injuries. Mitchell was listed as questionable going into Game 5 because of a sprained ankle that kept him from playing the entire second half of Sunday’s Game 4 loss — an injury suffered during halftime warmups.

Despite a coaching change, the Cavs ended their season in the same place — Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. So all eyes are on the roster.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus attempted to light a fire under his teammates prior to Game 5 of their second-round playoff series. Before Game 5 tipped off, TNT's Jared Greenberg revealed Strus texted the Cavaliers group chat: "If you don't believe, then don't show up for work."

Watch the Wine and Gold Talk podcast live with cleveland.com's coverage team as the crew talks about the Cavs' season-ending loss Tuesday night.