After falling 0-3, losing at home in Game 3, at the precipice of being swept in their own gym, Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said the team “analytically” won two of the first three games.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost Game 4 130-93, an absolute blowout, not close at any point, neither analytically nor realistically.
Following the sweep out of the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland announced the return of head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Two years into the job with 3 years remaining on his contract, Kenny Atkinson coached the squad to 64 wins last season—their highest single-season win total in franchise history—and this season, coached the boys into the Eastern Conference Finals—their first appearance since LeBron James took his talents to Spencer Pratt’s city.
The team is objectively better with Kenny calling the plays than any previous hire.
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert higave s full support to Kenny Atkinson.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden both reiterated their love for their skipper following the sweep.
“He understands his team. Of course, somebody’s going to have to take criticism, whether it’s myself or Kenny or whoever, the entire team. They’re going to put it on somebody. But I think for Kenny, he did an unbelievable job of getting me acclimated as fast as possible to understanding what I’m supposed to be doing out there. It’s just an unfortunate situation. Any team coming off of a tough two series against two defensive monsters (Toronto and Detroit), it would have been challenging.”
Despite the Cavs blowing a 22-point lead with 7 and a half minutes to go in Game 1—Atkinson refusing to call a timeout or make a substitution or draw up a new defensive scheme—just casually watching Jalen Brunson iso James Harden over and over and over, from the best seats in the house—Kenny Atkinson remains at the helm.
And Giannis is not coming to save them.
Marc Stein and Jake Fischer recently reported the Cavs “should be regarded as unlikely to factor into the trade chase,” with Cleveland understanding Giannis signing a long-term extension in Ohio inconceivable.
They later report the team isn’t moving on from 24-year-old DPOY Evan Mobley, calling him “a legitimate bridge to a successful post-Mitchell future.”
Kenny Atkinson is back.
James Harden is opting in.
Evan Mobley is untradable.
Giannis isn’t in consideration.
That’s everything we know.
So after finally making the Eastern Conference Finals and being swept up like Fantasia, the Cavs appear to just be running back the same team.
The Cleveland Cavaliers won’t be making the playoffs next season.
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