Desperate times call for desperate measures and Kenny Atkinson’s feeling it. The Cavs are just days away from the playoffs, but the team isn’t clicking the way they should. The pressure is mounting, and the coach is starting to show it. Whether it’s tossing a water bottle in frustration or getting ejected from the sideline, Atkinson’s emotions are boiling over. But Friday hit differently. Watching his team fall flat against the Kicks, he felt he had had enough. So, he asked one simple question to the players.

Kenny revealed it during the postgame press conference. He knew they didn’t have much time left. If he didn’t act fast, the game could slip away. So, during a timeout before halftime, he challenged his team. If they weren’t ready to compete, he told them, he’d put in the younger guys instead. “I got on them in the I think in the first quarter or beginning of second,” the HC disclosed. “I said, if we don’t want to be here, let’s — we’ll play the young guys. Like, if we’re not going to compete, we’re not going to play, which is fine, but tell me. I want you guys to tell me. And I walked away. Tell me if you want to play. I came back, and they said they wanted to play. So — and then they, you know, they turned it up.”

Fortunately, the team bounced back and pulled off a 108–102 win. Honestly, that wasn’t an easy task, especially in front of a tough Madison Square Garden crowd. And what made the difference? Guess Atkinson’s talk really helped. In fact, that pushed the team, according to Evan Mobley.

When reporters asked the Cavs star about their reaction to Kenny Atkinson’s fiery outburst, Mobley clarified things by saying, “It was called for. I mean, we’re down 23, so makes sense. We weren’t playing our best. You can tell our energy wasn’t right, and I feel like he said what he thought he should say, and I feel like it resonated with us, and we all picked our energy up and started playing better.”

But it’s still too early to say everything’s going smoothly in the Cavaliers’ camp. With the playoffs right around the corner, Coach Atkinson gave a glimpse into the team’s mindset and it might be concerning.

Kenny Atkinson opens up about Cavs’ mindset before playoffs

The Cavaliers have been phenomenal throughout the regular season, but the playoffs are a different story. They’ve got the talent, chemistry, and depth to compete. But do they have the mindset to beat the top teams? That’s what is weighing on Kenny Atkinson.

“Our talent level is there…,” Atkinson said in the presser. “The question that needs to be answered with this team is if they have the belief level at a championship level… Do you really believe you can beat Boston? Do you really believe you can beat Indiana? Do you really believe you can be a conference finalist?” 

He then went on to emphasize, “That’s the first step, and that’s the only answer. You know, it’s only — we’re only going to answer that when we’re faced with it. But that’s probably the lingering question. But as far as talent, chemistry, deep bench, we got it all. So it’s really going to be the mental battle. And I think believing at that at that next level.”

The physical tools the Cavaliers need to succeed are already in place, but it’s the mental side of the game that will actually define their playoff run. On the flip side, the other teams have that mental edge. That’s what will make the postseason journey challenging for them. And as Atkinson put it, if the Cavs really want to compete at that next level, it’s all about giving their all. Do you think they’ll be able to make it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!