CLEVELAND — Implying that his employees was bullied by the Knicks, Darius Garland acknowledged the Cavs must technique Sport 2 with further recklessness.
In several phrases, foul first and ask questions later.
“The refs allow us to play loads. So we hit first and see the refs react,” Garland acknowledged. “As an alternative of being punched within the face and simply laying all the way down to it. I feel that’s the mentality we have now to have. Go punch first and see what the refs do, see in the event that they blow the whistle or not. Simply set the tone for the sport with it.”
Within the technique of falling in Sport 1 Saturday, 101-97, the Cavs misplaced the entire intangible battles: components off turnovers, rebounding, fastbreak components, second-chance components, and so forth.
It was a bodily dominating effectivity from New York, notably down the stretch as a result of it grabbed every important free ball.
The experience was eye-opening for Garland, who, like a lot of the Cavs, was making his first postseason look.
“The physicality was positively the distinction for us,” Garland acknowledged. “Loads of us haven’t performed in it. So it was a great studying expertise. Now return and watch the movie and simply see how we alter all the pieces and attempt to hit first. They type of took us out of all the pieces as a result of they hit first and we didn’t hit again. We simply laid down just a little bit. And I feel that was the sport.”
Isaac Okoro, who caught an unintended swinging elbow to the face from Julius Randle, agreed that the playoffs have been officiated another way.
“Far more bodily,” he acknowledged. “You’re capable of get away with lots of stuff.”
So what can he do to take profit in Sport 2?
“The refs within the common season may name ticky-tack falls. Now understanding that I’m capable of get away a pair hand checks and nudges, I’m simply going to maintain doing it,” Okoro acknowledged.
The fouls Sunday have been fairly even — 20 for the Knicks, 17 for the Cavs — nonetheless Cleveland clearly felt choose it was pushed spherical whereas allowing New York to grab 17 offensive boards.
And Garland despatched a warning that the Cavs are coming into Sport 2 capable of battle the bully.
“New York is a bodily crew so we should be extra bodily than they’re down the stretch,” Garland acknowledged. “We now have to hit first.”
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