Cavaliers feel better prepared for playoff stage after '23 flop, face Magic in first-round series

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen doesn't regret the harsh, eye-popping review he gave of his postseason performance a year ago. Looking back, he told the truth about himself — and the Cavs. In the aftermath of Cleveland being pummeled and knocked out in the first round of last year's playoffs by the much tougher New York Knicks, Allen admitted that he wasn't ready for the stage or the spotlight. "The lights were brighter than expected,” he said after the Knicks won the series 4-1.