The top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers saw their postseason journey come to a disappointing end after falling to the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The loss closed out the series 4-1 in favor of the Pacers. Despite their regular season success, the team failed to carry momentum into the playoffs and couldn’t overcome Indiana’s dominance.
In an effort to spark a comeback, Cavaliers forward Max Strus took it upon himself to fire up his teammates before the decisive Game 5. As reported by Jared Greenberg during the pregame show, Strus sent a motivational group text to every player on the roster.
“If you don’t believe, then don’t show up for work,” Strus wrote in the text message.
Max Strus texted his teammates before Game 5:
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) May 14, 2025
“If you don’t believe, don’t show up to work.”
He finished the game 0/9 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/YgccxCaozV
Strus felt the group hadn’t accomplished much and urged every player to fully embrace and excel in their role that night. It was a call for unity and effort in the hope of pushing the Cavs to extend the series.
Unfortunately for Strus, his message didn’t translate into performance, either for the team or himself. The attempt at leadership seemed to fall flat, as the Cavaliers were unable to keep up with the Pacers. For Strus personally, the night turned into a disastrous outing.
Max Strus’ Disappointing Game 5 Performance
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Strus ended Game 5 without scoring a single point, going 0-for-9 from the field and 0-for-6 from three-point range in 26 minutes of play. He did grab seven rebounds and dish out two assists, but it was undoubtedly his worst showing of the postseason.
Prior to Game 5, Strus had contributed steadily, scoring seven, 23, 21, and 11 points in Games 1 through 4, respectively. Over the course of the playoffs, he averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
The Cavaliers may look to bounce back in the next season. But this particular game will likely serve as a cautionary tale for Strus, where a bold motivational attempt ended with a night he’d rather forget.
