Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson: We have it all heading into playoffs; will need belief, too

It’s been a banner season for the Cavs. But overall, it was not exactly a banner March. April has been better.

The Cavs put a stamp on that idea with Friday’s impressive road win over the Knicks. Now, there’s a game left and a postseason that awaits.

“I feel good,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said about the state of the team, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “I trust our body of work. Has it been perfect this last part, post-All-Star? I do think there has been a little bit of a malaise, a little bit of slippage.

“But I’m very confident going into the playoffs with this group.”

Cleveland (64-17) concludes the regular season Sunday vs. Indiana (1 p.m. EST, Rocket Arena). The Cavs are highly likely to rest many of their main guys, though we know Jarrett Allen will play. Indiana rested all five starters in Friday’s loss to the Orlando Magic.

Both the Cavs and Pacers are locked into their playoff spot — and could potentially meet in the second round. But this game? Yeah, means nothing.

“As far as talent, chemistry, deep bench, we have it all. It’s really going to be the mental battle,” Atkinson said. “The question that needs to be answered with this team is if they have a belief level that’s at a championship level.

“Do you really believe you can beat Boston? Do you really believe you can beat Indiana? Do you really believe you can be a conference finalist? That’s the first step. Only going to answer that when we are faced with it. That’s probably the lingering question.”