Atkinson’s belief in an unconventional lineups keeps the Cavs perfect.
The Cleveland Cavaliers looked dead in the water on Saturday evening. The Brooklyn Nets found a way to break through Cleveland’s two-big lineup in the first three quarters. Head coach Kenny Atkinson wouldn’t give them a chance to keep doing so in the fourth.
Atkinson chose to bench Jarrett Allen throughout the final quarter. This included closing with a four-guard lineup featuring Evan Mobley at the center for the final five minutes.
“Nothing was working,” Atkinson said. “We had to do something different.”
Initially, that different option also didn’t work. They gave up consecutive offensive rebounds which turned a two-point deficit into a seven-point hole. Atkinson quickly called a timeout.
Conventional wisdom would’ve suggested returning to a traditional lineup, but Atkinson didn’t budge despite having some second thoughts.
“That was a dicussion in the timeout,” Atkinson said. “Are we big enough? Are we going to be able to rebound?”
Atkinson decided to keep the four guards out there and it immediately started working thanks to Evan Mobley, who didn’t share any of his coach’s concerns.
“I didn’t have any thoughts or ideas about switching the lineup or anything,” Mobley said. “I thought it was perfect.”
Mobley was the one who made that lineup perfect. The Cavs turned the seven-point deficit into a one-point lead within two minutes. That was only possible because of the three consecutive stops that were a direct result of Mobley’s defensive versatility.
In that stretch, Mobley got a steal, forced a jump ball, and then provided a great contest on a Cam Thomas three.
Mobley capped it off by blocking Cam Johnson at the rim. It was a fitting way to end the night.
“He was phenomenal,” Atkinson said. “Those three or four stops we needed at the end of the game, he got caught on a switch and Cam tried to shoot it over him. He’s just too long. He had the big block on the last play and he rebounded the heck out of the ball.”
It was easy to see how the offense worked. This lineup gave the guards extra space. Darius Garand and Ty Jerome could get into the paint at will. They did that with ease. That said, it’s always a risk to go away from what has worked so well to get them to 10 straight victories at the start of the season.
“We tried the two big lineup probably too long quite honestly,” Atkinson said. “We had to match their speed.”
Atkinson’s willingness to be bold and do something different is one of the main reasons this team remains perfect. They’ve needed someone or something to elevate them from good to great. Talent hasn’t been an issue for this roster. It was about figuring out how it all works together even on messy nights when things don’t go to plan like this one.
The Cavs will lose a game this season. They know it’s coming. But they want to make sure they’ve done everything in their power to delay the inevitable. That includes doing something bold like closing with four guards when your team’s entire identity is built off of playing at least two bigs at all times.
“You’re thinking about it,” Atkinson said about the Cavs perfect start. “Normally, this is 11 games in. You’re not thinking about a streak, but tonight, you’re like, man, I don’t want it to end this way. . . . We’re competing. We’re trying to win every game, but it’s kind of weirdly in the back of your mind when you’re out there competing. Like man, we got to keep this thing going.”