Kenny Atkinson may not be in any real danger in Cleveland, but the Cavaliers are already running into the kind of questions that tend to linger if they don’t get cleaned up fast.
At 4-3 seven games into the season, it would be premature to talk about a hot seat. But the issues popping up around the Cavs are hard to ignore.
Zach Weiss of Cavs On SI pointed to Atkinson’s rotations, his closing lineups, and the disconnect between spotting problems and actually fixing them. One sequence that drew attention came late in Monday’s loss to the Thunder, when Weiss questioned the four-guard look with Jarrett Allen and Mario Hezonja on the bench despite productive stretches.
Atkinson said after the game that he used some lineups he wasn’t thrilled with. That’s part of November, when coaches test combinations and figure out what sticks. The challenge is making sure those experiments lead somewhere useful.
The bigger problem is the stuff that keeps resurfacing. Cleveland missed 10 free throws and gave up 15 offensive rebounds in a five-point loss.
That’s not all on the coach - players still have to knock down free throws and finish possessions - but Atkinson is the one responsible for getting the group to do those things consistently. It doesn’t mean his job is suddenly in jeopardy.
It does mean Weiss’ criticism has some weight, especially if the same conversation is still happening a couple months from now.
Toronto, meanwhile, has built a 4-3 start in a way that doesn’t look especially sustainable unless the shooting improves. The Raptors are finding offense without making many outside shots, which is impressive in its own way, but it also puts a lot on their defense and offensive rebounding to keep the whole thing afloat.
As Ethen Hutton of Raptors On SI noted, Toronto is forcing a league-leading 20.9 turnovers per game and also leads the NBA in offensive rebounds. Those extra chances have helped cover for a rough 31.5% mark from three-point range.
Scottie Barnes has taken on more with Kawhi Leonard sidelined and is averaging 24.4 points. RJ Barrett has also given them steady scoring help.
Still, there’s only so much the possession battle can mask. If opponents take care of the ball and keep the Raptors off the glass, Toronto needs another dependable way to score.
Better perimeter shooting would make Barnes’ life a lot easier.
Phoenix is dealing with a different kind of late-game problem. The Suns built a 17-point lead against the Warriors and still walked away with their third straight loss after coughing it up in the fourth quarter. Seven turnovers in the final period made sure of that.
“We have some spots,” Devin Booker said, via The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin, as relayed by Brendan Mau of Suns On SI. “We’ve been saying it the past few games, we just have to put 48 minutes together.”
At 1-4, the Suns also need more production from their centers while Mark Williams is out. Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro Charles Bassey combined for 19 points and eight boards.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Stole A Useful Frontcourt Addition From A Rival
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Omier has already spent time in training camp with Minnesota and has also had NBA and G League stops, including a stint with the Clippers, so this is not a total unknown for a team looking to add depth up front. For Cleveland, it is the kind of move that can quietly matter over the long season, while for Omier it is another chance to carve out a foothold in the league and prove he belongs. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron Just Reignited A Kyrie Debate Cavaliers Fans Know Well
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Irving is now with the Dallas Mavericks, while LeBron moved on again this offseason by signing a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Even with their careers headed in different directions, their Cleveland connection remains impossible to separate from how fans judge both players, and the renewed conversation around Irvings place in NBA history is only going to keep that bond in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Mobleys Next Career Move Will Catch Cavs Fans Attention
Isaiah Mobleys next stop is taking him back to Europe, where the former Cavaliers draft pick has agreed to join Basquet Manresa in Spain, according to the club. For Cleveland fans, it is another reminder of how the organizations recent draft history continues to ripple outward, with Mobley now adding Spain to a pro career that has already included stops in Turkey and Israel.
Mobley was a second-round selection by the Cavaliers in 2022, and his path since then has been a familiar one for players trying to carve out a longer runway in the game. Around the wider basketball world, Killian Hayes has been linked to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Josh Hart has been mentioned as a possible fit for Napoli Basket down the line, and the NBA has also been dealing with questions from U.S. senators about its partnership with Rwanda. [Read more 🡒]