Through the first two games of their playoff series against the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers made it fairly obvious that they were targeting a specific matchup on offense: Tyler Herro.
Their strategy became even clearer when Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland addressed it directly after Cleveland’s Game 2 win on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, Garland didn’t mince words when asked about the team’s game plan, confirming, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, “Pick on Tyler Herro. Don’t play in tight spaces and pick on their weak defenders. Go at them.”
The numbers back up Garland’s claim.
According to NBA.com, the Cavaliers have taken 33 shots with Herro as the primary defender in Games 1 and 2, converting 21 of them – a striking 63.6% success rate.
No other Miami player has been targeted more often or given up more made field goals so far in the series.
The Heat and Herro skipped media availability on Thursday, but when the team spoke with reporters on Friday, Herro clearly expected to face questions about Garland’s comments – and he responded strongly.
As reported by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Herro fired back: “To go to the media to talk about the game plan and this and that says a lot about him. I’m not worried about Darius Garland. Somebody that doesn’t play defense shouldn’t be talking, either. He don’t play any defense and we’ll see that tomorrow. He don’t play no D.”
Backing up Herro’s rebuttal, NBA.com’s stats show that Heat players have shot 66.7% (12-of-18) when Garland was their primary defender over the first two games.
While Herro dismissed the notion that Garland’s words would add extra motivation, telling reporters he has “enough fuel in me” and doesn’t need any more from “that guy over there” (via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald), his teammate Bam Adebayo made it clear the team took Garland’s comments personally.
“He cannot hide,” Adebayo said. “He said what he said. We all take that personal.”
Despite the back-and-forth, both Garland and Herro emphasized to Joe Vardon of The Athletic that they maintain a good relationship off the court.
Still, Herro made it clear the on-court trash talk was real.
“I mean, I’m not f—ing around. I don’t think there’s anything to f— around about,” Herro said on Friday.
“But we had said some words to each other on the court and then looked like he was in his feelings to go to the media to say that after the game. I mean, that kind of says everything right there.”
ICYMI: Heat guard Tyler Herro responded to Darius Garland's comment on Herro's defense.https://t.co/9oH5fwmIkT
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 26, 2025
