Kenny Atkinson has Cavaliers poised to be thorn in Knicks’ side

The STORY, arsenic I’ve heard it, is that Kenny Atkinson realized his Nets days were numbered aft a squad gathering called by himself, nan coach. 

Players passionately aired their issues successful this postgame locker room gathering and Kevin Durant, who wasn’t moreover playing that season, became a vocal professional of nan authorities of nan team. Keep successful mind nan Nets were overachieving, astatine slightest successful my view, still fighting for a postseason spot contempt regular DNPs from their apical dogs. But Atkinson hadn’t yet established a bully relationship pinch Durant aliases Kyrie Irving — which was difficult since neither was suiting up — and assessed he didn’t person clip to activity it retired earlier nan ax fell. 

So Atkinson told Nets president Sean Marks, and I’m paraphrasing, “If you’re going to occurrence maine astatine nan extremity of nan season, conscionable do it now.” 

Marks obliged. And cipher came retired of nan Brooklyn disaster looking amended than Atkinson. 

Now he’s Tom Thibodeau’s problem to solve. 

Atkinson, nan Long Island merchandise and an technologist of Linsanity, is nan overlooked and underappreciated upgrade of nan offseason arsenic nan caller Cavaliers coach. He returned to New York connected Monday and near nan Garden still undefeated with a 110-104 victory, reiterating Cleveland’s position arsenic a apical threat to thwart nan Knicks’ lofty goals this season. 

The turning constituent Monday was successful nan 3rd quarter, pinch nan Knicks seemingly successful power and Jalen Brunson coming up pinch a limb injury. It wasn’t excessively superior — Brunson returned successful nan 4th fourth — but his 5 minutes connected nan chair corresponded pinch nan disappearance of nan location team’s 11-point advantage. 

As overmuch talent arsenic nan Knicks boast successful their starting lineup — arsenic overmuch violative firepower they acquired from nan newcomers — they still request their prima constituent guard. 

Under akin circumstances, nan consequence was different past play successful Cleveland, wherever Brunson was wounded early successful nan first 4th and nan supporting formed gutted retired 1 of nan Knicks’ much awesome victories. 

But these aren’t past season’s Cavs. They’re not nan Cavs from 2 years ago, either, erstwhile nan Knicks punked them successful nan playoffs. 

They’re older, they’re little predictable offensively, they moved successful nan overgarment Monday arsenic if unintimidated by Karl-Anthony Towns, and, astir importantly, they’ve upgraded astatine coach pinch a spacing offense. 

“You consciousness [Atkinson’s presence], you spot it successful nan group,” Cavs prima Donovan Mitchell said earlier listing nan summation of respective caller actions into nan team’s offense. “Just nan mobility of nan offense. You tin show it’s already different.” 

Added Darius Garland, “I deliberation [Atkinson’s] really bully for us. He’s ace offensive-minded. Our protect broadside of nan shot is beautiful good. So to get immoderate discourtesy into our repertoire is simply a must. He gives america a batch of freedom, gives america room conscionable to hoop, a batch of space.” 

Atkinson waited for nan correct opportunity aft nan Nets’ dismissal, holding gigs arsenic an adjunct pinch nan Warriors and Clippers while turning down an connection to go caput coach of nan Hornets. 

In retrospect, Atkinson believes being fired made him better. 

“It changed me,” said Atkinson, who was nan adjunct pinch nan Knicks who worked astir pinch Jeremy Lin successful 2012. “You know, I’m not wholly a different coach than I was successful Brooklyn, but I learned a lot. 

“Obviously, being a portion of nan title squad pinch nan Warriors … guys that person done it astatine nan highest level. And past possibly much important than that is being pinch players that person done it astatine nan highest level. So Steph [Curry], Draymond [Green], Klay [Thompson], Paul George, Kawhi [Leonard]. You study truthful overmuch from those guys … it’s funny really things activity out. You get fired. You’re like, ‘Oh man, what americium I gonna do?’ And past it turns retired to really beryllium benignant of what I needed. I needed much vulnerability to title cultures.” 

The Cavs, minus Atkinson, are built connected continuity. 

Of nan 7 players who logged astatine slightest 50 minutes successful nan 2023 playoff bid nonaccomplishment to nan Knicks, six were disposable for Monday’s crippled astatine MSG. 

Of nan 9 Knicks who played astatine slightest 50 minutes successful that series, only 2 — Josh Hart and Brunson — played Monday. It’s rather nan quality successful roster retention versus turnover. But nan Cavs besides made nan astir underrated maneuver of nan summer. 

Same players, different coach. 

And different consequence against nan Knicks, who faced a amended force pinch a amended coach than what they retrieve from nan past 2 years.