Cleveland set a new franchise record with its 28th road win of the season, closing out a 5 match road trip with back-to-back victories. Kenny Atkinson’s squad took down the Trail Blazers 122-111, showing they can close strong and thrive under pressure away from home. But let’s be real—it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Cleveland dropped three straight before finishing with back-to-back wins. A rocky stretch, sure, but they bounced back when it mattered.

Three straight losses—again. That’s the second time this season, but this time? The playoffs are right around the corner. A string of mistakes has fueled Cleveland’s struggles, but here’s the real question—is this just a rough patch, or a red flag for something bigger?

Well, let’s see what Head Coach Kenny Atkinson had to say about it. Fatigue has started to creep in, and head coach Kenny Atkinson made it clear that exhaustion is something the team will need to address heading into the postseason.

“We’re a tired group right now,” Atkinson admitted postgame. “We need to get home, get in our own bed, get back on our routine.” The Cavaliers, who have been on the road for an extended stretch, showed signs of wear, particularly on the glass. Portland grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, an issue Atkinson pointed to as the clearest indicator of his team’s fatigue.

“It seems like even when we were there, they jumped over us and got it,” he said. “Some of it is us not hitting first, but some of it is just, you know, they had the fresher bodies out there.”

Despite their struggles, Atkinson praised his team’s resilience in closing out the trip with a win. “These last games of the road trip, you gotta find a way,” he said. “Wasn’t perfect tonight, but we found a way.” With the playoffs looming, Cleveland will need to recover quickly and refocus for the battles ahead.

With just 10 games left before the playoffs, Atkinson knows the margin for error is shrinking. His focus? Winning the possession game—a factor he believes will be crucial in determining postseason success.

“We’ve been really emphasizing the possession game,” Atkinson explained. “Winning the rebounding battle, winning the turnover battle, which we did not tonight. They kind of dominated us in the possession game, so that wasn’t great.”

Despite the struggles against Portland, Atkinson remains confident in the team’s progress. “That’s been a focus for us, and we’ve been doing a pretty good job,” he said. “We know the playoffs—a lot of times with teams that are very even—it comes down to who’s gonna win the possession game. So, that’s been a big emphasis.”

Portland may have won that battle, but the Cavaliers found other ways to secure the victory. “Lucky, you know, we attacked the rim and made shots,” Atkinson noted. “And obviously, DG, you know, kind of took over there at the end.”. Garland steered the Cavaliers’ offense with 27 points on an efficient 11-of-19 shooting while also dishing out eight assists. He took charge when it mattered most, dropping nine crucial points in the fourth quarter to help Cleveland seal the victory.

As Cleveland pushes toward the postseason, Atkinson’s message is clear: controlling the small details—rebounds, turnovers, and possessions—will be the difference between a deep run and an early exit.

But not everyone is sold on Atkinson’s impact. Before the Cavaliers’ matchup against the Blazers, former Cavs star threw some shade at Cleveland’s head coach while making his pick for Coach of the Year.

Kenny Atkinson isn’t Carlos Boozer’s first choice

Carlos Boozer isn’t convinced Kenny Atkinson deserves the Coach of the Year crown. Before Cleveland’s game against the Blazers, the former Cavs star took to First Take to make his case for Houston Rockets’ coach Ime Udoka instead.

“Ime Udoka is the Coach of the Year,” Boozer said. “Nobody’s talking about that. Everybody wants to talk about Cleveland. He (Atkinson) was gifted a team that already had All-Stars on it.” And just to twist the knife, Boozer also threw in a nod to ex-Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff, applauding the job he’s done in Detroit despite the Pistons‘ struggles.

But let’s be real—Boozer’s take doesn’t quite add up. The Cavs weren’t supposed to be this good. Heading into the season, no one had them pegged as the East’s top dog, let alone a legit contender. Just a few months ago, trade rumors swirled around Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and even Donovan Mitchell. Some thought Cleveland might shake things up instead of doubling down.

Atkinson didn’t just step into a perfect situation—he built this. Injuries derailed last year’s squad. Ty Jerome and Garland missed majority of last season, but today they carried the team over the line. His system works, and the players have fully bought in. That’s not luck—that’s coaching.