Cavaliers HC Kenny Atkinson has bizarre take on ECF

The Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing with elimination within the Jap Convention Remaining after dropping Recreation 3 to the New York Knicks on Saturday evening. They go into Recreation 4 on Monday down 3-0 within the collection, needing a win to maintain their season alive. 

It’s a tall mountain standing in entrance of them, not solely as a result of the Knicks are on an all-time nice run in these playoffs, but additionally as a result of no NBA staff has ever overcome a 3-0 collection deficit.

Regardless of that, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is just not overly annoyed together with his staff’s efficiency. That additionally resulted in him making a daring and considerably weird remark throughout Sunday’s media availability. 

Kenny Atkinson says Cavaliers have gained two of three video games analytically

Atkinson tried to color a promising image for his staff by declaring the nice issues they’ve completed within the collection, regardless of the losses, and among the moments of success they’ve had towards the Knicks.

How promising?

Nicely, he wanted to point out that by the expected score, the Cavaliers have actually won two of the three games. 

“We have had success towards this staff earlier than. We have had actually good moments. On this collection, up 20 in Recreation 1. Even Recreation 2, take that, run out from the start of the third quarter, and it is fairly tight. I believe analytically, I believe we have gained I mentioned three out of three, I believe we’re two out of three within the anticipated rating…we have gained two out of three. And I do know you are trying confused, however…if you happen to imagine in course of and all that, take that layer.”

Atkinson has at all times been an analytically pushed coach who trusts the method within the hopes it’s going to flip into outcomes. 

There’s a worth in that.

There’s a worth within the analytics he referenced right here. 

However here is the factor that Atkinson sort of overlooked right here.

It is okay to have that mindset.

It is okay to say it in personal to your assistant coaches.

It is even okay to say that publicly in the midst of the common season when your staff is in a hunch and nonetheless has 40 video games to play and has time to make up floor and switch that course of into outcomes.

But it surely’s probably not okay to say it publicly down 3-0 within the Jap Convention Finals. Particularly when a type of three noticed your staff lose a 20-point lead with lower than seven minutes to play after which lose by double digits in your first recreation again dwelling. 

Your gamers most likely don’t need to hear it. Your followers definitely don’t need to hear it. It’s also the kind of factor that’s going to result in much more ridicule and criticism from outdoors. Particularly if and when your staff ultimately loses the collection.