Kenny Atkinson is right to sound alarm on Cavaliers' defense. Opinion
After a Cavs win, coach Kenny Atkinson sounded off about Cleveland's defense, saying "we're going to have a short playoff stint" if it's not fixed.
CLEVELAND — Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson did not want to praise his team for scoring at will in a 136-131 win over the Orlando Magic on March 24 at Rocket Arena . Atkinson had no desire to bask in the Cavs shooting 60. 5% from the field, including 40% from 3-point range.
And Atkinson was not the least bit interested in celebrating the 68 combined points of starting Cavs guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. With 10 games left in the regular season, Atkinson's primary objective is to motivate the Cavs to get their act together on defense. He knows their playoff lives will depend on it.
Ready or not, the postseason will begin April 18. The Cavs certainly don't appear to be ready on one end of the floor. Amid a four-game winning streak, the Cavs (45-27, fourth in the Eastern Conference) have often demonstrated the defensive resistance of tissue paper.
Atkinson would not have been doing his job if he didn't sound the alarm. Well, he's ringing the bells behind closed doors and in public. It's an obvious sign he considers the situation dire for a team in NBA Finals-or-bust mode.
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