Cavs head coach candidate: Kenny Atkinson

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My issues with current Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff have been well documented. I recently had a Twitter thread highlighting the problems with the structure of his pick and rolls, specifically the placement of the ball screen. I also have a post planned regarding the current problems with the Cavaliers and how to fix them, and most of them are coaching related. 

With all this being said, he has exceeded expectations. The Cavaliers are currently 10th in the east and were in the playoffs for much of the season. They currently have the 13th best defensive rating in the league after having two of the ten worst defenses in NBA history in the two years prior to this one. Convincing others that the franchise needs to move on from him would be difficult, but I have my mind made up. We have been better than expected, but we could be simply better yet with a coach that isn’t going to produce the league’s worst offense. I think I found a qualified candidate for the job that I would very much like to see lead the Cavaliers into the future.


Cavs head coaching candidate: Kenny Atkinson

Current Clippers assistant, age 53

Head coaching experience: Nets, 2017-2020

Most notable year: 2019, made playoffs with a record of 42-40, led by D’angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie

Reputation: Good head coach, fired because Kyrie and KD didn’t like him. Overachieved greatly in 2019, also great culture guy.

2019 Nets categories of interest

  1. 3PAr: 5th highest

  2. FTr: 5th highest

  3. Defensive eFG%: 7th lowest (led by Jarrett Allen)

  4. Layup %FGA: 3rd highest

  5. Assisted %3PA: 28th highest

  6. Corner %3PA: 26th highest

  7. %FGA from (offense)

    1. 0-3ft: 14th most

    2. 3-10ft: 13th most

    3. 10-16ft: 23rd most

    4. 16ft-3pt: 28th most

    5. 3pt: 4th most

  8. %FGA from (defense)

    1. 0-3ft: 22nd most

    2. 3-10ft: 8th most

    3. 10-16ft: 3rd most

    4. 16ft-3pt: 2nd most

    5. 3pt: 27th most

  9. FG% from (defense)

    1. 0-3ft: 21st highest

    2. 3-10ft: 4th highest

    3. 10-16ft: 1st highest

    4. 16ft-3pt: 26th highest

    5. 3pt: 28th highest

  10. Assisted %3PA (defense) 27th most

  11. %3PA from corners (defense) 24th most

Notes: 3pt heavy offense, goes to the line often too due to high rate of layups. Also encourages a heavy dose of pull up threes, evidenced by the low % of both assisted threes and corner threes. Defense is great at defending 3pt line, also good at defending rim and not fouling. Where the defense lacks is forcing turnovers, unlike the current Cavaliers. Guard oriented offense, earned a winning record and made the playoffs with D’angelo Russell as the best player. Spencer Dinwiddie had his most efficient high volume scoring season under Atkinson, and Dinwiddie could be on the team at the trade deadline. Dinwiddie is out for the year but could resign and be a serious contributor next year. More film review is required to determine how he creates offense, but he appears to be a very good coach. I want him to coach the Cavaliers much more than JB Bickerstaff.

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