CLEVELAND -- With the playoffs set to start this April 15, setting off their defense of the NBA title, the reigning world champions Cleveland Cavaliers thanked their loyal fans at the Quicken Loans Arena during the team's final home game of the season.
Although the Big 3 -- LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving -- didn't suit up, fans still got a treat on Fan Appreciation Night as each ticket holder received a black/ maroon polyester Cavaliers bag and a scratch off ticket. Thousands of dollars worth of merchandise were given away in between game breaks.
Among those in the sold-out crowd was Jan Pol Naron, a basketball player himself, who came all the way from Bohol, Philippines.
"I'm ecstatic to be here, my first time to watch the Cavaliers. It feels great to be here and though I wish LeBron played I'm still happy I got to see him in person, shooting around during the pre-game warm up."
With their blue chip players resting the Cavs fell to the visiting Toronto Raptors, 98-83, finishing the 2016-17 season with a 51-31 record. As the No.2 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Cavs will battle the No.7 ranked Indiana Pacers in a best-of-7 first-round series begninning Saturday night at the Q Arena.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers signed guard Dahntay Jones and Edy Tavares, last Wednesday, Cavs GM David Griffin said, Jones played for the Cavaliers in the 2015- 2016 season, appearing in one regular season game and 15 playoff games during the team's title run.
The towering 7-foot-3, Tavares, a 43rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, spent most of his season playing for the Raptors 905, where he averaged 10.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and a league- best 2.7 blocks in 23.7 minutes over 48 contests and was a 2017 D- League All- Star selection.
Tavares and Jones logged some minutes against the Raptors.
Photo: Pol Naron with friends at the Quicken Loans Arena.
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