Kenny Atkinson didn’t like what he noticed from one in all his Cavaliers stars.
The Cleveland Cavaliers misplaced Recreation 4 to the Indiana Pacers in humiliating trend. It was a blowout of epic proportions, with the sport ending far earlier than the ultimate buzzer within the fourth quarter.
Donovan Mitchell ended up leaving the sport early, a lot to the chagrin of NBA followers. The taking pictures guard was struggling to beat his ankle damage.
Whereas Mitchell had talked about his personal damage issues in the previous couple of days, the Cavaliers, for essentially the most half, had been presumed to be wholesome coming into final evening’s recreation.
Regardless of the case could also be, it was removed from a flattering efficiency. And one thing Kenny Atkinson noticed from one in all his gamers actually upset him.
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Throughout the recreation, De’Andre Hunter had a little bit of an altercation with Bennedict Mathurin, the place he was the aggressor.
Kenny Atkinson, throughout his post-game press convention, admonished his participant, saying that he doesn’t wish to see violence or escalation from his gamers, as that’s not what the NBA is about.
“That’s not why I’m not on this league. I’m not in it for the fights, the pushing, and the punches. I simply don’t suppose I like that concerning the sport. That’s the course it goes.”
“I used to be simply telling our guys to maintain our composure. In the event you’re getting punched, you gotta be above, flip the opposite cheek. I instructed Dre, ‘Don’t react, it’s laborious.’”
“However they clearly got here out with an intent and a physicality. For essentially the most half, I feel we saved our composure. However pay attention, this can be a recreation about power. They had been simply way more forceful in each side.”
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Now down 3-1, the Cavaliers are going through a doable elimination within the second spherical but once more. After what occurred final 12 months, this might be a catastrophe.
The Cavaliers had the second-best report within the NBA this 12 months. The truth that they boast the reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr and three All-Stars makes this much more embarrassing.
Hope will not be misplaced fully. The Cavaliers have proven that they will beat the Pacers, as their Recreation 3 efficiency was good.
However they should string collectively three extra performances such because the one they’d, and so they must do it whereas not getting outplayed by the Pacers.
