Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert paying for “busloads of fans to attend games in Detroit” during the team’s second-round playoff matchup against the Pistons shows that Gilbert “cares about his fans, and vice versa,” and Cavs players “also appreciate Gilbert just as much as everyone else,” according to Alisson Toro-Lagos of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. Cavs G Sam Merrill said that Gilbert “played a role” in him re-signing last June “because of the way he cares about family.” Merrill said, “The Gilberts are unbelievable.” He added, “The way that they take care of the whole organization, families. They are always doing stuff for the wives, kids. It’s just a top to bottom first-class organization.” C Jarrett Allen also reflected on Gilbert’s support. He mentioned that the Cavs owner “sent him a message” before Sunday’s Game 7 that “ultimately gave him more confidence to play at his full potential.” For the series, Gilbert “sent busloads of Cavs season-ticket holders to Detroit at no cost.” G Donovan Mitchell said that he has “never been a part of an organization that sends fans to away games.” Fans at Game 7 were “spread around in the lower concourse, and at times they were louder than most of the Pistons fans.” After Detroit fans reacted to the game being a blowout by “leaving in droves,” Cavs fans “gathered by the tunnels and Cavs bench to cheer and chant as their favorite team punched its ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals” (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 5/18).
ALL ABOARD: Toro-Lagos in a separate piece wrote Gilbert “did something special” for his Cavs season ticket holders by charting “more than 20 buses filled with thousands of fans for an all-expenses-paid trip to Detroit” for Game 7. Gilbert has been the “only team owner in Cleveland so far to bring fans on the road.” And Game 7 “wasn’t the first time Gilbert went all-in for Cavs fans.” He also sent buses of fans for Games 1, 2 and 5 in Detroit. Cleveland-metro resident Brandt Heinrich, referring to Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said, “The Haslams could learn something from Mr. Gilbert” (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 5/17). Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said, “I noticed it. I know the players noticed it” He added, “It’s extremely generous of him, but I also know he wants to win badly. And have more support” (ESPN.com, 5/17).
