Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Kevin O'Connor: Always heard good things about Mike Gansey. He was very involved in targeting guys like Sam Merrill and Max Strus — pro personnel types of decisions. Should be a good hire for the Sixers.
Atkinson took the 2025 playoff failure hard and rewatched every possession from the series against Indiana, looking for what went wrong. He was hard on his staff, numerous league sources said, in part because he felt he couldn’t be overly hard on the players. But at the same time, with Darius Garland and Max Strus out to start the regular season, Atkinson tried to lean on Evan Mobley to be more of an offensive threat. Both he and the team struggled with that priority.
The Cavs and the Realest also auctioned off a Lakers bench seat from their game on Jan. 28 for $1,905. A game-used rim and net from that same game sold for $2,305. Another fan paid $1,505 for Max Strus’ city edition game-worn warmup pullover ahead of the Cavs’ game against the Orlando Magic on March 24. And yet… “We don’t want to sell only $10,000 items,” Keeney said. “That’s not accessible for the kid that’s growing up. We need to onboard a new generation and demographic of collectors.” Hence, the Cavaliers and the Realest also oversaw more modest purchases. That included an Allen pin ($57), a Mobley bobblehead ($50) and a Harden mockup beard ($30).
Sources tell cleveland.com that coach Kenny Atkinson is likely to make a starting lineup change for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Detroit Pistons Sunday night. The plan is to move Dean Wade out of the starting lineup, swapping in battle-tested veteran Max Strus.
Oh No He Didn't: Max Strus: "I look better? You're saying I look bigger?" "I do. I think you look like the Pistons. They got a bunch of big guys. I think you look like them" Max: "I'll take that as a compliment" ??
Advertisement
Any time the Detroit Pistons were chewing into the Cleveland Cavaliers' momentum in Game 3 of their NBA playoff series, Max Strus was there to swing it right back. Whether it was a deflection when his opponent was taking it out under the basket, creating havoc for the Cavs in the half-court offensively with his off-ball movement, or intercepting Cade Cunningham's inbound pass in a tie game in crunch time, the 30-year-old swingman showed a level of heart that deserves all the recognition. “We usually label one winning play; that was the winning play of the game,” Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson said after the 116-109 victory. “No doubt about it. Got the crowd going, we got our mojo going. “He's a maniac competitor. It's kind of like a playoff cliche in the NBA. You need guys that are a little crazy, in a good way, in the playoffs. We needed some wildness tonight, and he provides that and, of course, the shooting and the spacing. Without that, I don't think we get this win tonight, without his energy and his spontaneity.”
After the game, in an interview with Serena Winters, Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell told the raucous Rocket Arena crowd to “give it up for Max.” It was a well-earned ovation, as Strus' determination and grit stymied Detroit's runs on multiple occasions at different points of the day. “I'm just so happy for him, just because I know the work he's put in,” Mitchell said. “I know how taxing that can be mentally. I think I said this in Game 5 or something last year: he's consistently there. The box score shows 3-of-7, 1-of-4 for seven points, but crucial seven points, crucial [forced] turnovers. “He got an illegal screen call on [Jalen] Duren. There's just so many things he does that doesn't show up on the box score, and that's what makes him who he is for us. Especially in that third quarter when they went on that run, he changed it and set that tone. And obviously, late game, getting that steal, that's just who Max is.”
Josh Lewenberg: Cavs are going back to Dean Wade; he replaces Max Strus in the starting lineup. Raptors going with the same starters as Game 6 (Shead and Walter in for Ingram and Quickley).
On Wednesday afternoon, before the team left for Canada, with sights on a sweep, Strus, the battle-tested playoff veteran, said a series doesn’t start until both teams get a chance to play on the road. The series has officially begun. “We will respond. We ain’t got no other choice,” James Harden said. “We didn’t expect to win 16 games in a row. You know what I mean? Guys [are] a little frustrated, which I get it, they’re supposed to be. We’re supposed to be. But find a way to weather the storm, figure it out and be better for Game 4. It’s a part of the whole process.”
Advertisement
Brothers could clearly be seen telling Strus, and the Cavs, but definitely Strus, that they (he) needed to get back, immediately. Atkinson, whose bedside manner with officials is, let’s say, spotty, rushed over to Brothers in the corner, getting between the referee and the Cavs. Atkinson had his hands on Brothers, but his demeanor seemed calm, friendly, perhaps even joking. Whatever Atkinson said to Brothers, he seemed to agree with the Cavs coach, and Strus survived without penalty. “I told Tony it wasn’t bad intentioned,” Atkinson told The Athletic afterwards. Atkinson thought Strus may have thrown the ball in addition to nearly coming onto the court. “He was frustrated with himself, and it wasn’t directed towards you. I just tried to mitigate, or negotiate, because Max can get riled up.”
Danny Cunningham: #Cavs beat the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 126-113. Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 32 points, Max Strus had 24 off the bench, James Harden had 22 & 10 and Evan Mobley had 17. A relatively stress-free win for the Cavs. Cleveland leads the series 1-0.
Danny Cunningham: #Cavs list Donovan Mitchell (left ankle sprain) as out tonight in Memphis. James Harden (personal reasons), Thomas Bryant (left calf strain), Max Strus (left foot injury management), Jaylon Tyson (left great toe bone bruise) and Dean Wade (right ankle sprain) are also out.
The Cavaliers have ruled out Jarrett Allen (right knee injury management) and Max Strus (left foot injury management) for Monday's game against Utah. Craig Porter (left groin strain) has been upgraded to probable.
