The Cleveland Cavaliers have released a series of guidelines for fans attending Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Saturday at Rocket Arena.
Among the five ‘new rules’ posted on social media, the first was to ‘wear the damn shirt’. This refers to the shirts the team is handing out ahead of the matchup.
Cavaliers Aim to Protect Home Advantage
The Cavaliers are looking to improve their home record. They currently stand at 6-1 at home in the playoffs this year. Cleveland will attempt to improve to 7-1 in Game 3.
Cleveland has averaged 114.6 points per game on 49.4/37.6/74.4 shooting splits in home playoff matchups this year. Conversely, they have recorded just 104.4 points per game on 42.8/30.3/73.5 splits on the road.
Knicks’ Strong Presence Expected
Knicks fans have developed a reputation for their presence in opposing arenas during the playoffs.
There may be a sizable amount of Knicks fans present at the contest. According to TickPick, 41.7 percent of ticket purchases for Game 3 are from New York and New Jersey.
Series Situation
New York holds a 2-0 series lead over Cleveland. They came back from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win Game 1 in overtime before wrapping up a 109-93 victory in Game 2 on Thursday.
The Cavs similarly faced a 2-0 deficit to the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the playoffs. They won two straight games at home to tie the series before ultimately emerging victorious in seven games.
New Fan Guidelines
Here are the five rules that Cleveland is looking for its fans to follow on Saturday:
- Wear the damn shirt
The Cavaliers will be hoping their fans follow the guidelines as they attempt to claw their way back into the series.