The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: March 16, 2025
Today: March 16, 2025

Perfect 10: High-scoring Cavaliers extend best start in team history under new coach Kenny Atkinson

Warriors Cavaliers Basketball
November 09, 2024

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kenny Atkinson couldn’t help but smile as he looked at the box score and stared at the record of his Cleveland Cavaliers.

His first season as their coach has gone perfectly.

“10-0 is something. It’s kind of a magic number, right?” Atkinson said. “I was worried about tonight because the Warriors are champions. That surprised me, how ready we were, how hungry we were. 10-0 is really something for our team.”

Perfect 10: High-scoring Cavaliers extend best start in team history under new coach Kenny Atkinson
Warriors Cavaliers Basketball

Darius Garland scored 27 points and Evan Mobley had 23 as the Cavaliers routed the Golden State Warriors 136-117 on Friday night, becoming the first team in NBA history to win its first 10 games and score at least 110 points in each of them.

Atkinson’s high-powered offense has been a great fit for Cleveland, which leads the league in points per game at 124.5 and with a .526 field goal percentage.

Under now-Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff last season, the Cavaliers averaged 112.6 points and shot .479 from the field — with the same top nine players on their roster. They lost to eventual champion Boston in the second round of the playoffs.

The only significant change made by general manager Koby Altman was hiring Atkinson after he spent three years as an assistant under Steve Kerr with the Warriors.

Perfect 10: High-scoring Cavaliers extend best start in team history under new coach Kenny Atkinson
Warriors Cavaliers Basketball

“This was a great job to get, just like mine was 10 years ago, and it’s a perfect spot for Kenny,” Kerr said. “Continuity was already there and they were damn good last year, but Kenny has added his touch. He obviously is a good fit.”

Atkinson’s up-tempo style quickly won over the face of the franchise, All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell. Atkinson had previously worked with current Cavs players Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert during his head coaching stint in Brooklyn, making the transition even smoother.

Utilizing Cleveland’s depth has also paid dividends during the best start in franchise history. Ten players are averaging at least 15 minutes a game, but none are logging more than 30.

“We’re playing fast and we’re playing the right way,” said backup guard Ty Jerome, who scored a season-high 20 points against Golden State. “Everyone is making shots and everyone is having fun. And Donovan and Darius’ selflessness is allowing us to play that way.”

Perfect 10: High-scoring Cavaliers extend best start in team history under new coach Kenny Atkinson
Warriors Cavaliers Basketball

On an evening when the Cavaliers built a 41-point halftime lead at 83-42 — tying the eighth largest in the NBA’s shot clock era — and equaled the team record for points in a half, several players noted they still haven’t reached their potential.

Cleveland has outshot its opponent in each game, but has only won the rebounding battle four times. The Cavs also committed 19 turnovers that led to 30 points against the Warriors.

“That’s the thing — we have a long way to go, a lot of stuff to clean up, which is great,” Allen said. “We know we can be better and we’re not going to stop working until we get there. Kenny is one of the best coaches in the league and it’s showing.”

___

Perfect 10: High-scoring Cavaliers extend best start in team history under new coach Kenny Atkinson
Warriors Cavaliers Basketball

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Related Articles

NBA-leading Cavaliers beat Nets 109-104 for their second 15-game win streak of season Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic play to a draw in back-to-back games between top MVP candidates Sam Hauser becomes 4th Celtics player with 9 3s in a game as Boston keeps shooting from deep Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets better of fellow MVP candidate Nikola Jokić as Oklahoma City Thunder dominate Denver Nuggets
Share This

Popular

Australia|Sports

Carlos Sainz out of F1 Australian GP on opening lap. Two rookies also crash out

Carlos Sainz out of F1 Australian GP on opening lap. Two rookies also crash out
Celebrity|Entertainment|Health|Sports

Dick Vitale tears up on ACC Championship broadcast while talking about recent cancer battle

Dick Vitale tears up on ACC Championship broadcast while talking about recent cancer battle
Sports|US

Vikings acquire RB Jordan Mason from 49ers and give him a new 2-year deal, AP source says

Vikings acquire RB Jordan Mason from 49ers and give him a new 2-year deal, AP source says
Sports|US

Here’s who has booked their spot in the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament

Here’s who has booked their spot in the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament

Sports

Sports|US|World

Draper knocks off 2-time defending champion Alcaraz to reach Indian Wells final

Draper knocks off 2-time defending champion Alcaraz to reach Indian Wells final
Sports|US

Clayton scores 22 as No. 4 Florida beats No. 5 Alabama 104-82 in SEC semis

Clayton scores 22 as No. 4 Florida beats No. 5 Alabama 104-82 in SEC semis
Health|Lifestyle|Sports

How a serious health scare changed Gary Woodland's perspective on golf and life

How a serious health scare changed Gary Woodland's perspective on golf and life
Sports|US

UNLV fires coach Kevin Kruger, one of the program's links to its glory-day past

UNLV fires coach Kevin Kruger, one of the program's links to its glory-day past

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In