The Cavaliers looked pretty worn down during the first half of their visit to Utah on Sunday. At one point, it even seemed like they might just extend their losing streak to five by falling to the West’s 15th-seed Jazz! But then came the second half. And surprise! They dramatically flipped the script. Wondering what exactly changed? Well, it was Darius Garland’s “little” tactical change that took the team from struggling to a 120-91 victory over the Jazz. So, what was this change?
Head coach Kenny Atkinson revealed the secret in the presser. “During one of the timeouts he (Garland) goes, ‘Coach, you know, I kind of made a little whatever tactical change,’ and then he goes, ‘What about fun?’” Recalling the moment, Atkinson added, “Like, let’s enjoy this man. Let’s have fun. Let’s compete hard.” The coach couldn’t help but agree. Garland’s idea of having fun and enjoying the game worked wonders for the team. His teammates were all in agreement, too.
“I vaguely remember, but yeah, DG’s been saying that,” Sam Merrill vouched for Garland. “Like he said it at halftime the other night, like, said it again today. Just like, that’s, you know, that’s obviously when we’re at our best, and we’ve been doing that all year. So, it’s just a matter of seeing a couple shots go through, getting a couple steals and dunks and what not, and that’s, that’s when we can get our swagger and get going.” That’s what confidence does, it rewards those who play with it.
He backed up Garland’s approach, saying that the latter has been stressing the importance of having fun and playing with confidence. Once they find their rhythm, there’s just no stopping them. It’s not just Merrill either. Evan Mobley also shared how the Cavaliers are rolling this season. “I feel like that’s kind of how we play basketball, and that’s a big reason we’re where we are right now,” Mobley said. “And we’re going to continue having fun, and we’re going to make that an emphasis.”
When the man himself was asked about it, he gave a clear explanation, “It’s a kids game, so just trying to make sure we all have fun doing and that just uplifts everybody.” For Garland, the key to successfully playing the game is simple. Pass the ball, talk it out on defense, and bring the energy. That’s when the fast breaks, dunks, and alley-oops can happen. And who doesn’t want to have fun while dominating the game?
Dec 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) reacts after a play during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Finally, Darius Garland’s fun approach saved the day for Kenny Atkinson. But the coach better lace up those shoes because the competition for COTY is heating up, with a national reporter predicting some tight race ahead.
ESPN reporter hints at potential setback for Kenny Atkinson
After taking over from J.B. Bickerstaff, Kenny Atkinson made a huge impact on the Cavaliers. From the start of this season, the franchise sat comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference. But as the end of the regular season approaches, the Cavs seem to be slipping. At least based on their performance in the last four games. With everything on the line, Atkinson can’t afford to let this slide, or his predecessor might swoop in and snatch the COTY title right out from under him.
On The Hoop Collective podcast, Tim MacMahon stated, “Old, old JB, Bickerstaff, you know, plus 25 wins, the Pistons are going to win three times as many games, and then some, as they did last year. If Cavs corner doesn’t turn it around, old JB’s going to zoom right past Kenny Atkinson for that Coach of the Year, baby.”
Bickerstaff might not have delivered the desired results with the Cavaliers, but he’s been a game-changer for the Pistons. Last season, the franchise finished at the very bottom with a rough 14-68 record, but under his leadership this season, they’ve climbed all the way to the 6th seed in the East with 40 wins. That’s a huge turnaround! His success in Detroit has made him a solid contender for the NBA Coach of the Year title. While Atkinson is still the favorite for the award, a few more losses could make it Bickerstaff’s game, according to MacMahon.
Now it all boils down to the upcoming games for the Cavaliers. How they perform in the next stretch will determine whether Atkinson can keep his hold on the COTY title or if Bickerstaff’s impressive turnaround with the Pistons will give him a late shot. Who do you think has the opportunity this year? Let us know in the comments below!
The post Cavs Locker Room in Agreement Over Darius Garland’s Actions as National Reporter Warns Kenny Atkinson of Major Setback appeared first on EssentiallySports.
