Why Cavaliers 'stomach bugs' made a difference in NBA Playoffs series against Pistons

TL;DR

The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, but a stomach bug affected their performance against the Detroit Pistons. Sam Merrill was notably impacted, becoming ill between Games 4 and 5.

Key points

Cavaliers are one win away from Eastern Conference Finals
Stomach bug affected the entire Cavaliers roster
Sam Merrill became violently ill during the series
Merrill played 21 minutes in Game 5 despite illness
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden excelled in the playoffs

Mentioned in this story

Kenny Atkinson

Cleveland CavaliersDetroit PistonsSam MerrillDonovan Mitchell

Why Cavaliers 'stomach bugs' made a difference in NBA Playoffs series against Pistons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a win away from making it back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since LeBron James departed the team. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are playing out of their minds. Coach Kenny Atkinson has also been brewing the perfect schemes to win over the Detroit Pistons. But, the road has not at all been easy especially when a stomach bug ravaged the them.

Stomach bug bogged down Cavaliers in NBA Playoffs

It is still unknown where this disease came from but it has apparently coursed through the whole Cavaliers roster, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic. was one of the first people to get the stomach bug in the middle of their NBA Playoffs series against the Pistons. The Cavaliers shooter became 'violently ill' in between Game 4 and Game 5 which prevented him from popping off. Coach Kenny Atkinson still played Merrill for 21 minutes despite this but he could only muster up six points, a rebound, and a steal in Game 5.

Q&A

What impact did the stomach bug have on the Cavaliers' playoff performance?

The stomach bug significantly affected the Cavaliers, particularly Sam Merrill, who struggled to perform due to illness during crucial playoff games.

Who were the key players for the Cavaliers in the series against the Pistons?

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden were standout players for the Cavaliers, contributing significantly to their success in the playoff series.

How did Coach Kenny Atkinson manage the team's illness during the playoffs?

Coach Kenny Atkinson continued to play affected players like Sam Merrill despite their illness, attempting to maintain team performance during the playoffs.