Why Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson has no regrets about ejection and what the moment meant to his players
The Eastern Conference top seed already clinched. Four starters out. Darius Garland, Max Strus and Evan Mobley in street clothes on the bench. Donovan Mitchell watching from home. An internal plan to use the stay-ready group for most of the fourth quarter.
This had all the makings of a white-flag, warm-up-the-bus-early matchup. Until it didn’t.
That’s why he picked up two straight technical fouls and got ejected in Game No. 80 for arguing with the three-man officiating crew — Curtis Blair, Gediminas Petraitis and Matt Myers — over a non-call against veteran Tristan Thompson.
Atkinson had a message to send.
“I don’t regret that one. I had to have Tristan’s back on that blatant foul against him that led to my ejection,” Atkinson said to cleveland.com after the 114-112 loss. “Fourteen years in the league. An NBA champion. He deserves more respect than that. I couldn’t let that one go. No way.”
With about one minute remaining in the third quarter, Thompson plowed through the lane and flipped up a one-handed off-balance floater that banked in and tied the game at 78 apiece. As Thompson stumbled and turned toward the closest official, an incredulous Atkinson stood alongside the sideline, near center court, with his palms to the sky. Then he chased down Petraitis like a 100-meter sprinter leaning into the finish line.
Atkinson didn’t relent.
Not after he got his first T. Not after he stomped onto the court, shouting at anyone within earshot. Not after associate head coach Johnnie Bryant tried to hold him back. Not until the still-irate Atkinson was finally escorted off the floor and to the locker room.
“He’s fiery. If people didn’t know that, now they do,” sharpshooter Sam Merrill said when asked about Atkinson’s tirade. “He’s got everyone’s back. His ability to communicate with everybody up and down the roster, it’s not completely common among coaches. It’s a great thing. Kind of looked like Tristan got fouled from my view and Kenny being willing to fight for a guy is something we really respect.”
“I appreciate it,” Thompson said. “I was like, K.A. you really got my back, you really (expletive) with me. That’s dope. I would run through a brick wall for him too. He knows when we get into the playoffs I will chew out … I’m not going to say the name of the ref because I don’t want to get fined … so that he can stay in the game. This is a basketball guy who gets it. I’m going to rock out with him. He’s one of us.”
Having the pulse of his team is one of Atkinson’s greatest gifts. He’s been described as a player’s coach.
“It shows that he takes everyone seriously,” Ty Jerome said. “No shade on anywhere else I’ve been, but a lot of coaches, when you have a group out there together that hasn’t played much, for a coach to be that involved in the game and care that much, he’s not taking it lightly. He means what he preaches.”
Those two straight technical fouls were part of a bigger theme Thursday — the third to last game before the playoffs.
Prior to tipoff, Atkinson called it a test of the organizational culture and program. Even without four starters, he still believed Cleveland had enough to win. Everyone in that locker room did. Even though the Pacers stormed back in the fourth quarter, clinch night Tuesday provides the Cavs with an opportunity to rest important high-minute guys. It was also another purposeful look at lineups, sets, play calls and combinations — just in case.
With depth at the center of this special season and not wanting to abandon that, Atkinson plans to play 10 guys in the postseason — at least, from the outset. Seven are solidified. The expected starting five plus Jerome and De’Andre Hunter. The minutes of the other three — Merrill, Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade — will depend on numerous factors. Matchup. Situation. Time. Score. Just to name a few.
If conference seeds hold, the Cavs and Pacers will meet again in Round Two.
So, why not experiment ahead of time?
Should Okoro receive extended minutes against this opponent despite some offensive limitations? Can Hunter rebound well enough and function in a small-ball lineup against Indiana’s frontcourt? Atkinson also purposely force-fed Hunter on offense to see how much of an offensive role he can handle. Can Jerome be the maestro against dogged defenders Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell? Does Merrill have enough quickness and athleticism? Will the young players — Craig Porter Jr. and Jaylon Tyson — be composed enough in pressure situations?
One night doesn’t provide every answer. Some of them may not be used. But there’s more data now. And, if possible, an even greater appreciation for Atkinson.
“I love it,” Thompson said. “He wants teams to respect our team and respect him. He’s going to challenge people. That’s the New York guard mentality. That’s my love language.”
