The Cavaliers made it fairly clear based on their offensive strategy in the first two games of their series vs. the Heat that they were targeting a perceived weak link on Miami’s defense. Asked about the Cavs’ game plan after Wednesday’s Game 2 victory, point guard Darius Garland confirmed as much, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required).
“Pick on Tyler Herro,” Garland said. “Don’t play in tight spaces and pick on their weak defenders. Go at them.”
According to NBA.com’s data, the Cavaliers have attempted 33 shots through two games with Herro as the primary defender, making 21 of them (63.6%). No other Heat player has a higher number of field goals against (in terms of both makes and attempts) in the series.
Herro and the Heat didn’t have a media session on Thursday, but when the team spoke to reporters on Friday, the All-Star guard knew he’d be asked about Garland’s comments and didn’t hold back his feelings about them.
“To go to the media to talk about the game plan and this and that says a lot about him. I’m not worried about Darius Garland,” Herro said, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “Somebody that doesn’t play defense shouldn’t be talking, either. He don’t play any defense and we’ll see that tomorrow. He don’t play no D.”
To Herro’s point, Heat players have made 12-of-18 shots (66.7%) in the first two games of the series with Garland as their primary defender, per NBA.com.
As Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald writes, Herro downplayed the idea that Garland’s comments would further motivate him, telling reporters that he has “enough fuel in me” and doesn’t need any more from “that guy over there.” However, teammate Bam Adebayo, who came to his teammate’s defense, suggested Garland’s remarks would make for good bulletin-board material for the rest of the Heat.
“(He) cannot hide,” Adebayo said. “He said what he said. We all take that personal.”
Both Garland and Herro told Joe Vardon of The Athletic that they have a good relationship, but as Vardon writes, that doesn’t mean the trash talk between them isn’t real.
“I mean, I’m not f—ing around. I don’t think there’s anything to f— around about,” Herro told The Athletic on Friday. “But we had said some words to each other on the court and then looked like he was in his feelings to go to the media to say that after the game. I mean, that kind of says everything right there.”
As we relayed earlier on Friday, Garland is listed as questionable to play in Game 3 due to a left big toe sprain.
Herro is so soft
Most boys who beat their chests are incredibly soft…
21-33? Seems like a sound strategy.
They are both correct about their assessment of one another on defense
Herro is the white Ja Morant. Lots of talent, IQ in the single digits.
You watch Herro ever. Just a casual fan comment
I just watched him score 13 points in 37 mins with a -26 in a playoff game
Going at Herro also wears him out. Keep him honest on Offense. Cause Heat without Herro O ain’t going nowhere. Cavs have a light road this year. By getting get number one seed. They should be in East Finals. Just better not be overconfident.
If Tyler Herro is your best player and leading scorer. You aren’t going to win many games.
Same goes for Andrew Wiggins as your #3 or third best player, when Wiggins is a #4 or 5 on a title winner, like he was on GSW in 2022. When they asked him to be the #3, they stunk in 23 and 24 and 25 til they traded him and then they magically became a contender again with Jimmy. The leap from Wiggins to Jimmy is the size of the Grand Canyon, Wiggins really is not a “main guy” on a contender. He’s a “supporting cast and part of a deep bench” guy on a contender.
Yea Bam, Tyler….you showed the Cavs by winning game 3 and not going down 0-3…