CLEVELAND — Twice during Game 1, both Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson and Donovan Mitchell physically stepped in front of referee Tony Brothers as he made his way toward Max Strus.
In both instances, they were trying to keep a situation escalating between Brothers and Strus that could’ve ended in a quick exit for the Cavs’ forward.
And in both instances, it worked, which mattered, because Strus was a huge factor in Cleveland’s 126-113 breeze over Toronto to open this Eastern Conference first-round series.
Strus finished with 24 points off the bench on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and making 4 of 6 from 3, a playoff career-high in just 24 minutes. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 32 points, as expected, because Mitchell has scored at least 30 points in the first game of nine consecutive playoff series.
Strus, coming off both the bench and a truncated season shortened by offseason foot surgery, was the more unlikely hero. But Atkinson and Mitchell helped him get there.
Brothers is a highly rated veteran official who also has a reputation for an occasionally short fuse. In both instances on Saturday, Atkinson and Mitchell went so far as to put their hands on Brothers in making their case for Strus. Not only did they both get away with it – they weren’t hit with technicals or worse for grabbing Brothers by the arms – but on both occasions, Brothers seemed to listen to their pleas for Strus and declined to escalate the situation.
The first occurrence took place in the first half of what was, at the time, a close game. There was a play near the Cavs’ bench, and the call, whatever it was, went against them. Strus was not in the game at the time, but he — definitely the leader in this case — leapt out of his seat and toward the court to protest.
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.”
In the second case, the Cavs had blown the game open and were up by as many as 24 in the second half. There were three fouls called on Strus during the third quarter (five for the game), and as the Raptors were lining up to shoot free throws after one of the calls, Mitchell could be seen intercepting Brothers, who was walking from halfcourt toward Strus standing on the left block. Mitchell could be seen putting in an effort to stay in front of Brothers, again, using his hands to stop Brothers’ progress toward his Cavs’ teammate. Mitchell didn’t say, word for word, what he told Brothers, but he explained the greater context of their conversation.
“I don’t know if Tony played, but he seems like a competitor, the way he goes about things,” Mitchell said. “Everybody has their own different views on him. It is what it is. He’s not a bad guy. So, understanding my teammate, understanding who he is talking to, trying to be the voice of reason between the two of them in a heated moment.
Come to think of it, Mitchell actually did summarize what he said to Brothers.
“I basically said, Tony, at the end of the day, the ref holds all the power in this scenario,” Mitchell said. “The back and forth is only going to hurt one person.”
In a brief chat with The Athletic, Strus confirmed his involvement and simply described it as “emotion.” The playoffs do tend to ratchet up the intensity on the court, and Strus is wound that way, anyway, when it’s time to compete. It’s why he was such a good fit on the Miami Heat, who, in their most recent heyday, thrived on the competitive spirits of players like Jimmy Butler, and Kyle Lowry, and P.J. Tucker, and Bam Adebayo and Strus.
Brothers is in his 26th NBA season. He’s officiated nearly 1,500 games and received nine NBA Finals assignments — testaments to his longevity and skill. But he has also been accused of showmanship, of baiting players to escalate arguments and for quick technicals or ejections.
Which all made what didn’t happen on Saturday in Cleveland newsworthy. A combustible situation, a player and a referee with temperaments that meet the stereotype, and the two who came to Strus’ defense both stopped Brothers – which can be a quick route to something bad.
But Brothers didn’t react. He listened.
Mitchell chalked it up to having a good working relationship with Brothers personally.
“I think the biggest thing is being able to have that chemistry between every ref and knowing who’s going to ref the game, knowing what they’re like, you know what I mean?” he said. “And I think understanding that, hey, they’re humans too.”
Atkinson, who, by the way, noted the Raptors took 35 free throws, and blamed the Cavs for fouling instead of the way the game was officiated, said Mitchell has a reputation among NBA officials for his often polite, respectful demeanor toward them (Mitchell has been ejected only five times over nine seasons).
“I’ve had so many referees come to me and say ‘Donovan is the best negotiator, or he pacifies situations,’” said Atkinson, who then offered, “I wasn’t great at it, but now, I’m getting better at it.”
So too is Brothers.
