Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell gives to the wedges with their flowers despite the rivalry of playoffs

Revenge is not always current. Sometimes, that kimmeri, waiting for the right moment. For that Cleveland Cavaliers taking New York Knicks, The moment was right right. On national television, under strong lights of the newly announced rocket arena, CAWS erased Knicks, 142-105. However, for Cleveland, it was not just another game in late February. Instead, that was personal. After the vague overheated playoffs, The New York Games always mean more.

“They remember,” Cleveland’s chief coach Kenny Atkinson said pregame to the question about Cabs who humiliated playoffs in 2023. Years. “I know our players remember. They talk about it.”

And fans. The rocket Arena became a fortress this season, but there is a different energy when Knicks come to town. A special kind of hostility. The sales crowd is not just boo – how to shower players New York with an otzon who are usually reserved for the most hated Cleveland villains.

While feelings are the same from 2023. years, both teams are drastically different. Friday was another reminder of how much the song came from the crushing the playoffs that strengthened them, they made them better and helped them become this Eastern Juggernaut conference.

Knicks forced Cavs to adapt and evolve

With regard to the first playoffs of matches, the Resource Caves made a terrible 2023. years in relation to Knicks. Unfortunately, two years is not the entire century in the NBA. So whenever these met after their conflicts on post-setting, questions would always break up. Is Cleveland too soft? Are only heroes of the regular season? Can Donovan Mitchell transfer this team to the championship?

These questions and feelings surround them are stuck in the cabins. Even if I can see him now in a different light, Cleveland can’t do anything about what happened then. Instead, through the glass half full, the furnaces realized that they were first supposed to let them down. Their playoff debacle against Knicks was in learning and growth.

“I appreciate that,” Mitchell said when he was reflected on that loss. “I think it’s for ourselves, as a group, it takes. You don’t see us to get to this point if not, honestly, honestly, embarrass New York. I think those experiences humiliate. These experiences are needed. I don’t think we look at it as man, we have to hit them **.

“I have no other feelings on it, more, so I appreciate it because we help us to be what we want to be because we can remember how you feel like sh **** was honest.”

Although the cave can never completely erase the sting of that loss of playoffs in Knicks. But revenge? That’s not the point. Playoff series since 2023. There was no unstoppable force about New York. Instead, it’s about Cleveland not ready when he asked for a moment. The Knicks did not surpass them; They simply seized the opportunity that Cavs were still not ready to take.

That loss was not the end of something – that was the beginning. The necessary trial of fire. The right test now? Proving that the learned lessons do not only make them better in February. They make them bastards for June.

“I don’t want to say that (a series still bother us). Because I appreciate it,” Mitchell said. “I’ll watch it. I mean, for ourselves as a group, you needed it.

“You don’t see us to get to this point (without it). You don’t see the hunger in Darius Garland. I mean, you see the shoulder chip. Evan Moblei, Jarrett Allen, Isaac Oproro, Dean Wade, if not, honestly, honestly , we embarrass New York, you know? “