CLEVELAND — Implying that his staff was bullied by the Knicks, Darius Garland stated the Cavs ought to method Game 2 with extra recklessness.
In different phrases, foul first and ask questions later.
“The refs let us play a lot. So we hit first and see the refs react,” Garland stated. “Instead of being punched in the face and just laying down to it. I think that’s the mentality we have to have. Go punch first and see what the refs do, see if they blow the whistle or not. Just set the tone for the game with it.”
In the method of falling in Game 1 Saturday, 101-97, the Cavs misplaced all of the intangible battles: factors off turnovers, rebounding, fastbreak factors, second-chance factors, and so on.
It was a bodily dominating efficiency from New York, particularly down the stretch because it grabbed each essential free ball.
The expertise was eye-opening for Garland, who, like most of the Cavs, was making his first postseason look.
“The physicality was definitely the difference for us,” Garland stated. “A lot of us haven’t played in it. So it was a good learning experience. Now go back and watch the film and just see how we change everything and try to hit first. They kind of took us out of everything because they hit first and we didn’t hit back. We just laid down a little bit. And I think that was the game.”
Isaac Okoro, who caught an unintended swinging elbow to the face from Julius Randle, agreed that the playoffs have been officiated in a different way.
“Way more physical,” he stated. “You’re able to get away with a lot of stuff.”
So what can he do to take benefit in Game 2?
“The refs in the regular season might call ticky-tack falls. Now knowing that I’m able to get away a couple hand checks and nudges, I’m just going to keep doing it,” Okoro stated.
The fouls Sunday have been pretty even — 20 for the Knicks, 17 for the Cavs — however Cleveland clearly felt prefer it was pushed round whereas permitting New York to seize 17 offensive boards.
And Garland despatched a warning that the Cavs are coming into Game 2 able to struggle the bully.
“New York is a physical team so we need to be more physical than they are down the stretch,” Garland stated. “We have to hit first.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com