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Omari Sankofa II: Atkinson on facing his predecessor in JB: “What a year he had, what a year the team had … you relish these challenges. These guys are elite in their business. Of course, just like with the players it’s a challenge. Respect the heck out of him and what they did this year.”
Omari Sankofa II: Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson on if players bring familiar with JB helps: “It helps a little. I think some knowledge there, especially on the defensive schemes and where they’re going to be, that helps a little bit for sure.”
“Before we start, I just want to really credit the Raptors,” Atkinson prefaced his postgame press conference. “Darko [Rajakovic] and his staff did an unbelievable job. They gave us all we could handle. That's a heck of a team over there, and they've got a bright future. They confirmed who we thought they were all season. So just respect — respect for their coaching staff, that group of players over there.”
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Michael Grange: “Don’t wait, especially in a Game 7,” — Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson on his team’s ability to turn things up defensively in 4Q last three games. Wants his team to bring it earlier on that end.
92.3 The Fan: “I was going to put Donovan (Mitchell) and Evan (Mobley) back in and they said, ‘no, this group’s rolling.’ That never happens in the NBA.” #Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson on the stars recognizing what was working in the fourth quarter
“I was going to put Donovan (Mitchell) and Evan (Mobley) back in and they said, ‘no, this group’s rolling.’ That never happens in the NBA.”#Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson on the stars recognizing what was working in the fourth quarter pic.twitter.com/hK1Xfb1Cj1
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) April 30, 2026
Danny Cunningham: Atkinson on the starting lineup change: “Obviously they’re gumming up our offense right now. We just needed some more spacing.”
Danny Cunningham: Kenny Atkinson: “I think this was a step for us from a mental toughness point of view.”
After a chaotic regular season that only raised doubts about its championship viability, Cleveland has entered this postseason looking to rewrite the narrative — and it identified Schröder as someone who can help author that change. “We needed his edge,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson told cleveland.com. “We needed an edge in our locker room. We needed that force, grit, personality — that blunt personality. We were missing that. We needed his feistiness — or you can even call it nastiness, but in a good way. I always say I enjoy conflict with a team. It’s welcomed. He gives us something we didn’t have”
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An assistant for Mike Budenholzer at the time, in his second NBA stop, Atkinson didn’t know much about Schröder. But he learned quickly. And when thinking back to those early days with Schröder, Atkinson still chuckles about a brash turnover-prone teenager eager to make his NBA mark. Perhaps a bit too eager. “Dennis is, how should I say, extremely competitive and maybe wasn’t aware of all the nuances of the NBA — or he just didn’t care,” Atkinson told cleveland.com “He came to the NBA in full force. He wanted to take everybody’s job, which we loved about him. We had a really structured system in Atlanta from player development to team stuff, and I think he struggled with that as a rookie because the demands were extremely high.
Brothers could clearly be seen telling Strus, and the Cavs, but definitely Strus, that they (he) needed to get back, immediately. Atkinson, whose bedside manner with officials is, let’s say, spotty, rushed over to Brothers in the corner, getting between the referee and the Cavs. Atkinson had his hands on Brothers, but his demeanor seemed calm, friendly, perhaps even joking. Whatever Atkinson said to Brothers, he seemed to agree with the Cavs coach, and Strus survived without penalty. “I told Tony it wasn’t bad intentioned,” Atkinson told The Athletic afterwards. Atkinson thought Strus may have thrown the ball in addition to nearly coming onto the court. “He was frustrated with himself, and it wasn’t directed towards you. I just tried to mitigate, or negotiate, because Max can get riled up.”
Starting center Jarrett Allen has been able to practice two straight days without limitation and Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson says there are no restrictions. But Allen admitted Thursday — about 48 hours before Game 1 — that his problematic right knee is still not full strength. “A little pain,” Allen said following practice. “It’s not going to go away immediately. That’s something that’s going to have to linger for a while. It’s enough where I can play at a high level, I believe.”
