The Cleveland Cavaliers are up 1-0 in their seven-game series with the Toronto Raptors after their narrow 113-112 victory in Game 1.
Despite stealing the first game, Tyronn Lue and the Cavs are well aware they have a long way to go before advancing past the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Neutralizing DeMar DeRozan is at the top of the list of things that need to continues throughout the series if the Cavs are to be successful, so much so that Lue has implemented a $100 dollar fine to any player who falls for the signature DeRozan pump fake.
Tristan Thompson who finished Game 1 with a double-double of 14 points, 12 rebounds did a good job defensively in the second half Tuesday night, and staying down on the DeRozan head fake was always in the back of his mind.
"I'm not trying to give up that money," Thompson said via ESPN. "I just had a kid, so I'm just trying to save up for their college tuition."
DeRozan finished in the ten top in free-throw attempts in the regular season averaging 7.0 per game. In Game 1 he went to the line just three times, a number he and Raptors' fans would surely like to see elevated come Thursday night.
The Raptors' four-time all-star said in his post-game press conference that the team understands what they have to do going forward.
When it comes to guarding DeRozan the Cavs might have an idea of how to do that - even if it takes a cash penalty to get the message across.
