Just as we look surprisingly at the Cavs’ thunderous run this season, their coach also has a similar reaction! Quite funny, right? Well, that’s what we thought too. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who struggled badly in the playoffs last season, are dominating right now with a 17-1 run. The only major change that the front office made ahead of the season was roping in Coach Kenny Atkinson. And now, he doesn’t believe what’s happening in front of him.
Speaking at the presser after comfortably defeating the Raptors, a reporter asked if he was surprised with the 17-1 run. The coach, without any second thought, said, “Yes. you just said 17-1 and I was like, ‘Wow!’ I have been in the league for 17 years and it just doesn’t happen, right?” Moreover, he gave credit to the Raptors’ side saying, “Even a game like tonight, you can lose these games, right? Toronto’s a darn good team. They play hard.”
Above all, Atkinson left a shocking remark, saying, “We’re not exactly on top of our game, and we still come up with a W. It’s kind of shocking for where we are. That’s not to disparage anybody. It’s just more about how hard it is in this league. It is to do that.” Besides that, he made yet another unforeseen perspective ahead of tonight’s game about the team’s offense, despite the strong offensive rating. The Cavs lead the league with the best offense, scoring 123.0 points per 100 possessions. He said that the team hasn’t unlocked the full offensive potential and added, “I think 70% or maybe 65%.”
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Well, Coach Atkinson may have flexed a bit on that occasion.
Nevertheless, he has an almost perfect run. The Cavs have had only one loss so far against the defending champs. Where was he hiding for so long? Technically, he wasn’t.
Coach Kenny Atkinson’s road to Cavaliers’ glorious start
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Before putting on the coach’s hat for the Cavaliers, Kenny Atkinson has had a long journey in the league, assisting head coaches of multiple franchises and also head coaching the Brooklyn Nets for four seasons. After a seven-season-long experience as an assistant coach, helping the Knicks and Hawks, he received the Nets job.
It was a four-season stint as a head coach, which came to a controversial end. It was the era before Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant joined hands in Brooklyn. To be honest, Coach Atkinson didn’t have a notable stint with the Nets. He endured three losing records in his four seasons, including a 20-62 run in the 2016-17 season.
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Moreover, he took the team to the postseason twice and exited in the first round on both occasions. Nevertheless, speaking of his experience, he recently said, “I’ve grown a lot. I’ve changed a lot as a coach, which is a good thing, I’ve progressed. I’ve developed. Definitely not the same coach I was in Brooklyn.”
Well, we’re sure about that. How long do you think the Cavs can push their dominant start? Will Atkinson win his first ring with the Cavs as a head coach? Let us know in the comments below.
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Cavs' 17-1 run: Is it pure luck or a testament to Atkinson's coaching genius?
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Cavs' 17-1 run: Is it pure luck or a testament to Atkinson's coaching genius?
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