When the Cleveland Cavaliers hired Kenny Atkinson, they hoped he would take their offense to the next level.
J.B. Bickerstaff had established a strong defensive identity, but the offense often lacked creativity.
So far, the early returns of Atkinson’s tenure have been just what the team expected on offense.
His defense, however, has also been superb.
Mikey McNuggets of The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show recently claimed that the zone defense was why they got past the Indiana Pacers.
Donovan Mitchell has been awesome but the #Cavs MVP tonight has been its zone defense.
Indiana can’t break it and the shots they are generating are exactly what Cleveland wants them taking.
Most zone defenses are flukey. Atkinson’s zone is a legitimate weapon.
— Mikey McNuggets (@MikeLucasTV) January 15, 2025
He argued that they forced Rick Carlisle’s team to take unwanted shots.
Moreover, while the zone defense seems to be a lost art in today’s three-point-happy league, he believes the Cavs have a legitimate weapon with it.
It’s hard to disagree with that statement.
Even so, Atkinson must be adamant about going to the zone early and often, as he should keep something in store from the playoffs.
Likewise, it might be better for the team to change zones multiple times during a game rather than in long stretches to keep the opposing team guessing.
The Cavs have the best offense in the game and a top-ten defense.
They have the best overall record, best home record, and best road record.
Simply put, there’s no other way around it; they’re the best team in basketball right now, and it’s not particularly close, either.
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