Cavs’ Darius Garland’s answer to getting bullied by Knicks in Game 1: ‘Punch first and see what the refs do’

CLEVELAND— Implying that his team was bullied by the Knicks, Darius Garland said the Cavs should approach Game 2 with more recklessness. In other words, foul first and ask questions later. It was a physically dominating performance from New York, especially down the stretch as it grabbed every important loose ball.

CLEVELAND — Implying that his team was bullied by the Knicks, Darius Garland said the Cavs should approach Game 2 with more recklessness.

In other words, foul first and ask questions later.

“The refs let us play a lot. So we hit first and see the refs react,” Garland said. “Instead of being punched in the face and just laying down to it. I think that’s the mentality we have to have. Go punch first and see what the refs do, see if they blow the whistle or not. Just set the tone for the game with it.”

In the process of falling in Game 1 Saturday, 101-97, the Cavs lost all the intangible battles: points off turnovers, rebounding, fastbreak points, second-chance points, etc.

It was a physically dominating performance from New York, especially down the stretch as it grabbed every important loose ball.

The experience was eye-opening for Garland, who, like many of the Cavs, was making his first postseason appearance.

“The physicality was definitely the difference for us,” Garland said. “A lot of us haven’t played in it. So it was a good learning experience. Now go back and watch the film and just see how we change everything and try to hit first. They kind of took us out of everything because they hit first and we didn’t hit back. We just laid down a little bit. And I think that was the game.”

Isaac Okoro, who caught an accidental swinging elbow to the face from Julius Randle, agreed that the playoffs were officiated differently.

“Way more physical,” he said. “You’re able to get away with a lot of stuff.”

So what can he do to take advantage in Game 2?

“The refs in the regular season might call ticky-tack falls. Now knowing that I’m able to get away a couple hand checks and nudges, I’m just going to keep doing it,” Okoro said.

The fouls Sunday were fairly even — 20 for the Knicks, 17 for the Cavs — but Cleveland clearly felt like it was pushed around while allowing New York to grab 17 offensive boards.

And Garland sent a warning that the Cavs are coming into Game 2 ready to fight the bully.

“New York is a physical team so we need to be more physical than they are down the stretch,” Garland said. “We have to hit first.”

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