Max Strus of the Cavaliers has been present physically, but that’s about it.
As the Cavaliers faced a daunting 3-1 deficit against the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, they were in desperate need of a turnaround.
In an effort to rally his team before the elimination game, Strus sent out group texts to his teammates urging them, “If you don’t believe it, don’t show up for work.”
However, Strus had a tough outing, going 0 for 9 from the field, contributing no points, along with seven rebounds and two assists. This performance was shared live on TNT by reporter Jared Greenberg before Game 5.
Greenberg noted that the group message had been sent to all Cavaliers players, and then relayed Strus’s words.
Typically dependable, Strus had been averaging 12.2 points per game in the series, with a commendable shooting percentage of 40% from beyond the arc in Game 5, which actually ranked second on the team.
Strus’s words were captured on Twitter, highlighting his team’s struggle after his disappointing performance and the team’s elimination.
Now, Strus will be a spectator for the remainder of the playoffs as the Pacers advance to face the winner of the Knicks and Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks are looking to capitalize on their 3-1 series lead in Game 5 against the Celtics on Wednesday night.
The Cavaliers, once the number one seed, find themselves reflecting on their failures as they head into the offseason.
The series took a dramatic turn when Cleveland squandered a 7-point lead in the last 48 seconds of Game 2, leading to a 2-0 hole they couldn’t escape.
Throughout the series, the Cavaliers also faced health challenges, with key players like Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, DeAndre Hunter, and Evan Mobley battling injuries.
