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Cavaliers Have Standing $100 Fine for Biting on DeMar DeRozan Pump Fake
May 2, 2018
DeMar DeRozan has one of the NBA's best pump fakes. The Cleveland Cavaliers did everything they could to not bite on it in Tuesday night's 113-112 Game 1 win—and for good reason.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported the Cavs have instituted a $100 fine for every time a player bites on a DeRozan pump fake during their second-round series.
"I'm not trying to give up that money," Tristan Thompson said. "I just had a kid, so I'm just trying to save up for their college tuition."
Fines like this are not uncommon and continue a trend for the Cavs. Coach Ty Lue instituted the $100 fine last year for every time a player fell for a pump fake by DeRozan or Kyle Lowry.
The fine amounts to little more than a public shaming; a $100 bill for an NBA player is something akin to a dime for an average citizen.
But it's a sign of respect to DeRozan, who will find his way onto some MVP ballots after leading the Raptors to a 59-23 regular-season record. DeRozan finished sixth in the NBA in free throws attempted this season and has averaged at least seven per game each of the last five years.
