The Cleveland Cavaliers had a tremendous regular season and are poised to storm into the NBA playoffs.
They know the stakes are high, just like the expectations, but they are all trying to remain peaceful and dedicated.
Speaking to Cleveland.com, head coach Kenny Atkinson talked about his mindset ahead of the playoffs.
He seems to be doing well and is ready to go.
“Pretty even-keeled right now,” Atkinson said when asked how he is feeling days ahead of his first playoff go-around with the Cavs. “Maybe on game day it’s a little different, but one thing I’m trying to do is check myself and not get too hyped.”
He has plenty of reasons to be hyped, but Atkinson is staying cool.
His Cavaliers earned a 64-18 record in the regular season, their strongest run in years.
From beginning to end, they were a team to be afraid of, and they took down the biggest groups in the league.
But all throughout the season, there have been critics saying the Cavaliers are not the real deal.
These people claim the team would fall apart once the bright lights of the playoffs were shining on them.
For some people, these expectations might be too much, but others use them as motivation.
The Cavaliers have something to prove, and they are centered and laser-focused on the task at hand, shutting off the critics and naysayers and attempting to play well.
Atkinson and his team aren’t sure who they will play against in the opening round, but it’ll either be the Atlanta Hawks or Miami Heat.
Either way, they will be ready to get started and prepared to show the world why this regular season wasn’t a fluke.
Atkinson and his team are calm right now, but they surely won’t be when the games begin this weekend.
NEXT: Tristan Thompson Reveals What Makes 2025 Cavs Different From 2016 Team
