Cleveland Cavaliers’ Max Strus calls being in the playoffs a privilege, however is aware of that being a part of some of the skilled groups in the postseason carries further weight.
The Cavs will host the Toronto Raptors, a workforce that swept Cleveland in the common season, for Game 1 on Saturday. Which additional heightens that burden.
“We know what they like to do, we know how they would like to play, we just got to be mentally tougher,” Strus stated regarding the matchup towards the Raptors.
“We [got to] find a way to get to that extra gear, find a way to push through fatigue, find a way to push through, um, you know, tough moments and come together as a group and, and, and find a way.”
Toronto swept an understaffed Cavs facet, however that’s no excuse
Despite the Raptors claiming three wins over the Cavaliers in the course of the common season, these victories got here early, between October and November.
It was throughout a interval when the Cavs have been desperately shorthanded, with a number of gamers out on account of harm, together with Strus, who returned from a foot harm on March 15 towards the Dallas Mavericks after lacking the primary 67 video games.
But, to Strus, the report nonetheless exhibits that Toronto obtained the higher of Cleveland. No excuses.
“We didn’t have our full team during that time, but it’s not an excuse,” Strus admits.
“They beat us, they played well against us, and it’s easy to watch film on that and understand the game and the situation and how they do things and how they like to play.
So, we definitely watched those games, we definitely took things from them and learned from them, and hopefully we’ll be better for it.
“Playing in the postseason is a privilege. Not everybody gets to do this. It’s the best time of the year; it’s the best basketball. You live, and you work all season, you work all summer for this moment, and it’s just the best time of the year.”
Strus praises Mitchell’s constant mindset forward of Raptors conflict
A serious level of emphasis for the Raptors in this sequence can be to restrict Donovan Mitchell and scale back their productiveness to make life more durable for the Cavs.
That might play into the palms of Strus, who has averaged 11.2 factors and 5.4 rebounds in 12 video games this season, capturing 40% from three-point land, and has proven that he can take the offensive accountability if Mitchell is proscribed.
Strus is aware of that he’s conscious and has praised their constant drive and mindset all through the season.
“Don understands the importance and what it takes to win,” Strus says.
“You can say everything you want, you can say about him, that he hasn’t been there, he hasn’t done this, but I’ve never seen a superstar work and care as much as he does.
“The amount of detail, the amount of time he spends on his body, in the weight room, on the court, watching film. Like, there’s not a lot of people that care more than Donovan Mitchell, and I think that says a lot about him, and what he’s willing to do to win.”
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