Sam Merrill has a role to play for Cavs

The Eastern Conference finals will feature a cavalcade of stars. Unfortunately, Sam Merrill isn't one of them. Even though he played like one in Game 7 Sunday in Detroit, Merrill is a role player extraordinaire for the Cavaliers. He came off the bench and exploded for a playoff career-high 23 points, two assists and one steal. Merrill shot 7-for-10 from the field, 5-for-8 from the 3-point line. To show just how tough he is, Merrill was ramrodded by Pistons swingman Ausar Thompson, who drew an offensive foul in the first half. The Cleveland swingman got a fat lip on the play and was hit so hard he could have suffered a concussion. It was the second consecutive game he suffered from Thompson's wrath. The Detroit bully was assessed a flagrant-1 foul in Game 6 when he flattened Merrill after hitting him in the neck area with a forearm smash. The Cavs embarrassed the Pistons 125-94 in Game 7. They travel to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the East finals. Cleveland hasn't advanced this far since 2018, LeBron James' last season with the team. "I mean, you can't take moments like this for granted," Merrill said. "(There's) nothing better than winning Game 7 on the road. "We have such a good group, such a resilient group. We have a lot more that we want to achieve but can't take a moment like this for granted." Teammate Donovan Mitchell had a game-high 26 points, six rebounds and eight assists for Cleveland in Game 7. "It's hard to describe what Donovan means to me," Merrill said. Merrill was playing at Utah State when Mitchell joined the Utah Jazz. Merrill said he was at Mitchell's first game with the Jazz and attended some playoff games that season. "So, you're not going to find a guy (happier) for him than I am, but I know he wants more," Merrill said. "We all want more." The Cavs are underdogs heading to New York, which hasn't played a game in nine days. Cleveland's big men stepped up in Game 7, as center Jarrett Allen and power forward Evan Mobley combined for 44 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks. Both will be challenged in the Knicks series by Karl-Anthony Towns and key reserve Mitchell Robinson. Merrill said Allen "completely took over the game" in Game 7. "He was great the whole game," he said. "It seemed like he completely dominated the glass. They couldn't get an offensive rebound. When he takes off from just the inside the free throw line (for a dunk), he's feeling good. (It's) so cool to see (from) one of my favorite dudes on the planet." Cavs owner Dan Gilbert visited coach Kenny Atkinson on Saturday night. "He came over to our hotel and (said), 'You know who is the key to this whole thing? The spark of this is Jarrett Allen,'" Atkinson said. Cleveland's coach ran the first play of the game for Allen, who finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and one block. "Sometimes you have people who observe from afar, plus Dan knows the team well and knows these guys," Atkinson said. "He was prophetic." The coach said if the Cavs play with force, coupled with their talent, they're "really hard to beat." Historic win Cleveland's 31-point victory in Game 7 was the largest margin of victory in a Game 7 in Cavs' history and the third time in NBA history a team has won a Game 7 on the road by at least 31 points. Cleveland has advanced to the East finals for the ninth time in team history. The Cavs' win over Detroit was their sixth consecutive Game 7 win, which is the second-longest Game 7 winning streak in NBA playoff history (The Celtics won 10 in a row from 1957-69). Hot hand Mitchell is averaging 29.9 points, 5.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.78 steals in his last 14 regular-season games vs. New York, which includes 20 or more points in every game. Dr. JA Allen has recorded at least one block in 13 consecutive postseason games, which ties James and Mobley for the second-longest streak in Cavs' postseason history. Allen has accumulated 26 blocked shots in his 14 games so far this postseason. Mobley has recorded seven multi-block games in a row, which is the second-longest streak in team history, and 21st of his postseason career. With his fourth rebound of the game Sunday, he passed Larry Nance Sr. (330) for the seventh-most rebounds in Cavs' postseason history. Madison Square Harden Cavs guard James Harden is 29-6 (.829) in his career all-time against the Knicks, which is the second-highest winning percentage for any player in NBA history against the Knicks. Contact Bob Finnan at (440) 329-7135 or rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.