Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson called out his team after Monday’s 136-104 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Rocket Arena. “I don’t know if there’s any particular phase or you could argue they shot the heck out of it. Defense, offense, I just think they show why they’re champions. They dominated us in every phase,” Atkinson said.
The Cavaliers struggled to execute offensively against Oklahoma City’s defense. “We got to the rim 17, 19 times in the first half and we couldn’t finish. We didn’t read the game right, and the decision-making was troubling,” he added.
Atkinson highlighted the Thunder’s defensive pressure as a key factor. “They’ve got great hands. You get in the paint and Chet comes over. He’s elite, forces tough finishes. Then when you try to pivot around, they swarm you and take it from you,” he said.
The Thunder’s shooting also contributed to Cleveland’s woes. “They came in bottom five in the last 10 for three-point percentage and tonight tied a franchise record with 23 threes. It wasn’t shooting luck. It was everything tonight,” Atkinson explained.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren led the Thunder’s attack, combining for 58 points. “We’ve got to have other guys step up and make plays. Our decision-making when it wasn’t in Donovan’s hands wasn’t great. We have to do it more consistently,” Atkinson said regarding the Cavaliers’ offense.
Turnovers continued to frustrate Atkinson. “You force a turnover and then two, three seconds later they get possession. Some passes were just weird. Normally you get a steal and a good shot. Tonight, that didn’t happen,” he said.
The coach stressed context while acknowledging mistakes. “You’re going to have that with young guys, playing some not used to the role, especially against a top defensive team. We still need to trust our guys,” Atkinson noted.
Cleveland struggled from deep, hitting just eight of 35 three-point attempts, while Oklahoma City converted 23-of-47. Atkinson also pointed to spacing issues. “When you get three guys at the rim, you have to move the ball, attack the second or third side. We tried to do it at first intention, but they’re too good,” he said.
The Cavaliers fell to 24-20, dropping to 14-11 at home after a season-high blowout. “These games happen in the NBA. You get blown out. We have to flush it, learn from it, and move on. We’ve got a good group. We’ll bounce back in Charlotte,” Atkinson concluded.
