Dribbles: Movement Name Of Cavs’ Game Under Kenny Atkinson, Players Say

October 3, 2024

Random Cavaliers dribbles following day three of NBA training camp at IMG Academy in Florida on Thursday. …

1. Player after player, the message has been the same — there will be no standing around under new coach Kenny Atkinson. It’s cutting, passing, ball movement, and making the opposing defense work.

2. This, of course, comes after several years of pick-and-roll and occasional iso ball.

3. That’s not intended to knock anyone. It’s not to say this way will turn out to be significantly better. But it is different and it is why Atkinson got the job. The Cavaliers wanted to try something new.

4. Apparently, they found it.

5. For instance, Isaac Okoro has spent like 90 percent of the time in the halfcourt offense standing in the corner. Okoro was just doing what he was instructed and following the game plan. But he says that those days are over.

6. Okoro on Atkinson: “He envisions me as a guy who’s moving a lot without the basketball, not just a guy being stagnant.”

7. Darius Garland was among those who shared similar sentiments. “He’s had one of the best backcourts in the world (when Atkinson was an assistant with the Warriors),” Garland said. “Hopefully that translates to us.”

8. The Cavaliers averaged 112.6 points last season, which sounds like a pretty good number. But it was actually 20th in a 30-team league. More than that, there were way too many instances when things got clunky, including the playoffs.

9. Some of that had to do with injuries. Some of it also had to do with predictability.

10. Defensively, the Cavs were among the NBA elite, allowing 110.2 points per game, seventh in the league. Atkinson and his staff have stressed that area of the floor as well. No one wants to take a step back in that department. But the priority is to get more creative at the offensive end.

11. Quick side note: Garland said Ty Jerome “has been hooping” and looks like “one of the best players in camp, in my opinion.” Jerome could be a surprise performer under Atkinson. He can shoot, handle, hustle and keep things moving. I’m getting the sense that we may eventually say the same about rookie Jaylon Tyson.

12. We’re only a few days away from an actual preseason game (Tuesday vs. Bulls). With the Browns dominating the news and the Guardians in the MLB playoffs, not many people are noticing the Cavs right now. But we sure do and I’m sure grateful you follow along. Much more to come on this very website.