NBA Notes: Cavs, Kenny Atkinson, Nuggets, Bucks, Doc Rivers

Cavaliers

Count new Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson among those with the most to prove this season, wrote Kendra Andrews of ESPN.

And that is a fair point. The Cavs made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals last season under J.B. Bickerstaff, one year after getting to the first round. So the next natural step would be the conference finals.

“The Cavaliers reached the second round of the playoffs last season, and are looking to take that next step forward,” Andrews wrote. “They locked in their centerpiece Donovan Mitchell — who signed a three-year, $150.3M extension in July — but Atkinson is tasked with making sure the pieces around Mitchell do their part.”

That means Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and the rest. 

“The glaring issue in Cleveland last season, aside from injuries, was the offensive cohesion among its best players,” Andrews wrote. “Atkinson’s offensive-minded skill set is just what the Cavs need to guide their superstars. If Cleveland doesn’t take a step forward this season, solidify its direction with Darius Garland and make it deeper into the playoffs, more questions will arise about the structure of the team and what other changes need to happen.”

Nuggets

Another man with much to prove? How about Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth?

One year after winning the title, Denver was upended by the Timberwolves in Game 7 of the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.

“Booth is just one season removed from winning a title. But the Nuggets lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this summer in free agency after losing Bruce Brown in free agency the summer before,” wrote Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “Booth would like to see some of the Nuggets’ younger talent get more playing time, but he also has to maximize the championship window around three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.”

Depth and outside shooting are the big questions for Denver entering the season.

“The Nuggets signed veteran guard Russell Westbrook this summer and signed Jamal Murray to a four-year, $208 million max extension,” Youngmisuk wrote. “But with so many up-and-coming teams in a competitive conference, Denver has fierce competition for the top spots in the West.”

Bucks

Oh, and when it comes to people with a lot to prove, let us not forget Bucks coach Doc Rivers.

You know, the man who left the ESPN broadcast booth early in the season to take over in Milwaukee? But the Bucks never really took flight — though that can be at least partially blamed on injuries.

“There are few people in the modern NBA who invoke more polarizing opinions than Doc Rivers,” wrote Jamal Collier of ESPN. “He was named one of the 15 Greatest Coaches in league history, but hasn’t won a championship since 2008 or been to the NBA Finals since 2010.

“Rivers jumped at the chance to take the Bucks’ coaching job in the middle of the 2023-24 season, but emphasized that expectations shouldn’t get too high given the limited practice time,” wrote Jamal Collier of ESPN. “Rivers took over a 32-14 team and finished 17-19, losing in the first round of the playoffs in a series mired by injuries.”

No matter, expectations remain sky-high.

“Milwaukee has two superstars in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard running it back for a second season, and a three-time All-Star and proven playoff performer in Khris Middleton,” Collier wrote. “Now, Rivers will have a full offseason and training camp to mold the team before entering the 2024-25 season. Will he meet the Bucks’ championship expectations?”