Kenny Atkinson recognized rebounding as Cleveland’s largest downside after the Cavaliers misplaced 109-97 to the New York Knicks on Saturday, permitting 49 rebounds.
“Rebounding. You recognize, I feel we’re minus 10 in a possession recreation. You possibly can’t give them 10 extra pictures than us,” Atkinson stated after the defeat. “They’re too good to provide these further possessions. That’s their energy. They’re one of many high possession groups within the league. We didn’t deal with it nicely tonight.”
The Knicks outrebounded Cleveland 49-40 and picked up 16 offensive rebounds, in contrast with 10 for the Cavaliers. Karl-Anthony Cities grabbed 13 rebounds, whereas Andre Drummond added eight off Cleveland’s bench.
Atkinson additionally praised Donovan Mitchell for maintaining the Cavaliers aggressive. Mitchell scored 21 of his season-high 37 factors within the fourth quarter, however Cleveland couldn’t full its comeback after falling behind by 18.
“It’s actually spectacular bodily simply to have the ability to go on a back-to-back, to go at it like that,” Atkinson stated of Mitchell. “I assumed it was each ends. I assumed he was competing at a excessive degree on the defensive finish, too.”
“He stored at it, didn’t stop, stored after it. Spectacular second-half efficiency from him,” the coach added.
Jalen Brunson scored 18 consecutive factors within the second quarter, serving to New York flip a 39-37 deficit right into a 52-45 lead. He completed with 31 factors and 9 assists, whereas Cities contributed 29 factors.
Atkinson credited the Knicks with discovering solutions in opposition to totally different defensive approaches. New York entered the sport because the defending NBA champion after sweeping Cleveland in final season’s Japanese Convention finals.
“They actually have options,” Atkinson stated. “Their continuity, proper? Possibly you bought these 4 guys that performed in school collectively, proper? Three. They usually have simply nice chemistry.”
“They’re on a string on each ends. No matter you throw at them, they discover a answer,” he continued. “After which the rebounding factor actually offers them a… I don’t know, the final three, 4 video games we performed in opposition to them, you go toe-to-toe they usually find yourself beating you on the boards.”
The Cavaliers minimize the deficit to single digits late however couldn’t get nearer. Atkinson stated missed alternatives prevented them from finishing the comeback.
“We couldn’t recover from the hump. We by no means made that actual type of assertion,” he stated. “Didn’t assist the pictures weren’t falling. We had some beauty. You want a pair threes to go in, and it simply didn’t fall, and now you’re operating again on protection once more.”
Atkinson additionally described the early-season schedule as a serious problem, with Cleveland going through a number of robust opponents. The Cavaliers fell to 5-5 after the loss and now have three consecutive highway video games forward.
“It’s going to be a canine battle, a massacre to get into these high six,” he stated. “There’s a lot expertise up and down.”
The coach added that Cleveland should hold enhancing its habits and processes fairly than count on a better stretch.
