CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers weren’t just bounced in the playoffs by the Knicks, they were bullied in the series.
Punked by New York’s physicality.
Believing they held superior talent in the matchup — as multiple players indicated afterwards — they froze in the big moment.
Almost everybody on the roster disappointed, especially in the frontcourt.
It soured an otherwise successful season, casting doubt on the coach, the star Donovan Mitchell, the plan.
Isaac Okoro, the Cavs’ starting wing, said Saturday that he adopted Miami Heat fandom just because he wanted to watch the Knicks eliminated.
“I know [losing to the Knicks] stuck with me for a pretty long time,” Okoro said. “It took me a minute to get over it.”
How long?
“Till they were kicked out of the playoffs.”
The rematch on Halloween night, as you can imagine, is not just another regular-season matchup for the Cavaliers.
There’s revenge on the mind. Okoro acknowledged “the extra juice.”
Power forward Evan Mobley added, “We definitely want to get this win and put it on them. So we’re definitely getting prepared and ready for that game.”
Their star will certainly be rested.
Mitchell sat out Saturday’s 125-113 loss to the Pacers — with the Cavs citing “hamstring soreness” — giving the 27-year-old three days off before a back-to-back set against the Knicks (weirdly, the Cavs play at MSG on Wednesday, making it something like a mini-mini playoff series).
Mitchell will be the center of attention for Tuesday’s national TV matchup as a former Knicks trade target who can become a future Knicks trade target.
Notably, Scott Perry, the former Knicks GM, said recently on the “Hoops Genius” podcast that the team was reluctant to deal all its assets for Mitchell because he couldn’t carry a team by himself.
“He needed more around him to win,” Perry said. “If he was that singular force, Utah would’ve probably been in the conference finals.”
The Cavs (1-2) also sat starters Darius Garland (hamstring strain) and Jarrett Allen (bruised ankle) on Saturday, making it unsurprising they lost rather convincingly at home.
Asked about his core returning for the Knicks game, coach JB Bickerstaff replied, “I’m hopeful. But we’ll see.”
The Knicks (1-2), meanwhile, are coming off a back-to-back and stayed an extra day in New Orleans after Saturday’s ugly loss to the Pelicans.
There’s less at stake from a vengeance perspective on Halloween, but Tom Thibodeau’s squad could use a positive result after its uneven start.
The Knicks were outsized and sloppy against the Pelicans, leaving the impression they were operating on tired legs in the second game of a back-to-back.
Okoro, coincidentally, said he learned from the Knicks playoff series about the significance of wearing down the opponent.
He was tasked with guarding Jalen Brunson.
“Just be physical. By being physical you could wear your opponent out. First quarter, second quarter, by the fourth quarter they’re all worn out. They got dead legs,” Okoro said. “So just be physical from the start.”
The Knicks won the battle of attrition when it mattered most in May.
Now the Cavs are motivated for the rematch.
“It’s a big game for us,” Mobley said. “Definitely want to go out there and really show our crowd and show our team we’re out here to fight and move forward and keep getting better and I feel like it’s going to be a good game.”
