The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the NBA’s hottest teams in secret, winning 12 of their previous 15 games, including their current seven-game winning streak, despite the absences of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley due to injuries. Sam Merrill, a reserve guard, has been a major contributor to the Cavaliers’ recent success. He scored eighteen points in Saturday night’s 116-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite being a late addition to Cleveland’s roster, the third-year guard has given the Cavaliers’ offense a much-needed boost, especially with his three-point shooting. But after the win on Saturday night, a Cleveland supporter went too far in his adulation of Merrill, likening the Utah State prospect to Steph Curry in a social media post addressed to Austin Carr, a Bally Sports Ohio TV analyst and Cavs veteran.
“is sam Merrill better than steph curry?” the fan wrote to Carr.
@MrCavalier34 is sam Merrill better than steph curry?
— Jeremy Alan (@jtez23) January 21, 2024
After tweeting the article with several happy face emojis, the first overall choice in the 1971 NBA Draft clarified that Merrill is not, in fact, superior to the two-time MVP of the Golden State Warriors.
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀 https://t.co/mkUlJ86Y15
— Austin Carr (@MrCavalier34) January 21, 2024
Can’t compare Sam with Curry ,two different players
— Austin Carr (@MrCavalier34) January 21, 2024
Although the fan’s exaggeration was probably intended, Carr’s candid response is a microcosm of the reasons Cleveland supporters still adore him. The legendary player from Notre Dame just said that Merrill and Curry aren’t comparable, instead of responding with the obvious: yeah, Merrill isn’t better than the greatest shooter in NBA history.
Over the years, the 75-year-old Carr has amassed a cult following on social media, with his catchphrases “Hello Cleveland, it’s Game Time” and “Go Cavs” turning into weekly rituals for Cleveland supporters. Nevertheless, his posts from Saturday indicate that even he is willing to draw a line in how far he will take his adulation, despite his clear pro-Cavs leanings.
