MIAMI — Kenny Atkinson quickly grasped the potential of the Cleveland Cavaliers, even before the season began. It only took him two training sessions at their camp in Bradenton, Florida, to notice something special about his team. One of Atkinson’s assistant coaches made insightful remarks that resonated with him throughout his inaugural season as the Cavs coach.
“He noted, ‘We’re skilled, smart, and we play really hard.’ Those early insights have stayed with me,” Atkinson recalled this week, reflecting on the pivotal feedback. Little did they know just how accurate these observations would turn out to be.
Indeed, smart, skilled, and hardworking encapsulates what the Cavaliers have become under Atkinson’s leadership. They’ve secured a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals, set to face either Indiana or Milwaukee, after effectively overpowering the Miami Heat in their first-round matchup. The series, won decisively with a sweep by the No. 1 seed, saw the Cavaliers outscoring the Heat by a whopping 122 points, setting an NBA playoff record for the most lopsided series. Games 3 and 4 were won by staggering margins of 37 and 55 points, both away from home.
“They’re preparing for a lengthy postseason journey,” Miami’s coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged after Game 4, giving credit to Cleveland. “They’re well-coached and cohesive, playing the right way. It was a humbling experience for us, much of which was due to how they performed.”
The Cavaliers have showcased this dominance throughout the season, albeit the 55-point victory in Game 4 marks their largest win. The 37-point triumph in Game 3 is tied for their fourth-largest of the season, underscoring their ability to perform beyond expectations. Not even during the era of LeBron James did Cleveland manage to achieve such commanding results. With an average margin of victory standing at 10.5 points per game, the Cavaliers are on course to set a franchise record. Historically, only nine teams have completed a regular season and playoffs with a margin that commanding.
During the grand spectacle of Game 4, Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell was seated next to rookie Jaylon Tyson. Mitchell conveyed the significance of the series with a simple message: “This is your first playoff series… and this (stuff) isn’t normal.”
“We have loftier aspirations,” Mitchell stated. “We realize that this is a unique accomplishment. We’ve been achieving extraordinary feats all season, but our focus extends beyond sweeping the first round; we are aiming higher.”
Riding a stellar 68-18 record this season, including playoffs, only two other Cavalier seasons surpass their victory count: the 2008-09 team (76-20) and the championship-winning 2015-16 squad (73-30). Inevitably, the Cavaliers will enter the second round as favorites, irrespective of whether they face Indiana or Milwaukee. The team is surging with confidence, buoyed by winning streaks of 16, 15, and 12 games—a rare feat achieved only by the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks before them. This dynamic began long before the regular season, back in the Bradenton camp.
“There’s synergy and understanding amongst the team. They know how to play,” said Atkinson. “While we may not be extraordinarily athletic, we have players who understand the game and possess the tenacity to succeed.”
And indeed, the Cavaliers continue to show both an understanding of the game and a knack for victory.