Cleveland has been a strong regular-season team for the past three years, but playoff success hasn’t been there. That’s part of why the Cavaliers decided to move on from head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Kenny Atkinson, most recently an assistant with Golden State, is now tasked with helping this team break through. Atkinson did good work as head coach of the Nets from 2016 to 2020 and has been patiently waiting for the right opportunity — while learning from Steve Kerr, one of the league’s best coaches. While he passed on other coaching jobs, Atkinson jumped at the chance to lead the Cavaliers.
One of the first things Atkinson will bring to Cleveland is a fresh approach to the offense. Under Bickerstaff, the Cavaliers relied heavily on isolation and pick-and-roll plays, often resulting in players standing around. Atkinson’s motion offense emphasizes off-ball movement, quick decisions and a read-and-react style. He wants everyone involved and he wants the ball to zip around the court. But that doesn’t mean Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland won’t have the freedom to isolate or run pick-and-rolls with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Those actions will just come later in the shot clock, as Atkinson prefers to see if the team can find an easier shot first.
Mitchell should have no problem adjusting. The five-time All-Star can put up 30 points and five assists in any system and remains one of the league’s most potent offensive players. Garland is similarly adaptable, though Atkinson may push him to take more 3-pointers. This system is also likely to empower other players. Keep an eye on Max Strus, who thrives as a movement 3-point shooter. He stands to benefit from the new offense after an up-and-down first season in Cleveland.
One of the season’s primary goals will be unlocking Mobley’s offensive potential. There were some raised eyebrows around the league with Mobley signing a five-year, $224 million extension after the playoffs, but that contract was a bet on the big man’s upside. Already one of basketball’s top defenders, Mobley is a strong rim protector with excellent footwork for his size. But there’s room to grow on offense. He’s a better shooter than many realize and will work on extending his range to the 3-point line. Mobley can also handle the ball and is a decent passer. If Atkinson can help him take a leap offensively, the hire will be a success. With Allen as a rim-running center, the Cavaliers need Mobley to become more dynamic.
Beyond Mobley’s development, Cleveland needs better luck with injuries. Last season, the Cavaliers struggled to keep their core four — Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Allen — on the floor together. Mitchell missed 27 games, Garland 25 and Mobley 32. Allen was the only consistent presence, but even he missed most of the postseason. Role players like Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade also dealt with injuries.
Atkinson also needs to do his best not to mess up the defense. The Cavaliers were consistently excellent on that end of the floor under Bickerstaff. Fortunately for Cleveland, it’s hard to struggle on that end of the floor with Allen and Mobley lurking in the paint.
If the Cavaliers can stay healthy, they should be in the mix for 50 wins and will be a tough out in the playoffs. Still, there’s a sense that something is missing. Mitchell, while incredible in many ways, may not be good enough to lead a title contender, and Garland and Mobley have yet to prove they can be the second options on a championship team. So, even if Atkinson’s changes are positive, Cleveland remains a second-tier team in the Eastern Conference with little on the horizon to change that.
Cavaliers Win Total Prediction
In my Knicks preview, I noted that I like the Under on their regular season win total but believe they can contend in the Eastern Conference. Well, I have the exact opposite view of the Cavaliers. This Cleveland team should once again be a fantastic regular season squad, but there isn’t much upside here. That won’t change until the Cavaliers make some moves to balance out this roster a little bit, and that move is probably finding a taker for Allen. However, I am interested in seeing what Atkinson can do with Mobley. If Mobley becomes a star, the Cavaliers’ long-term outlook becomes much better.
Lean: Over 47.5 Wins (-136)
