The Cleveland Cavaliers are dominating the 2024-25 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba">NBA</a> season with a 16-1 record, sitting comfortably atop the Eastern Conference. Key to their success has been Kenny Atkinson‘s leadership, which has brought out the best in his players. Center Jarrett Allen, a pivotal piece of the Cavaliers’ success, recently spoke about Atkinson’s journey as a coach and the differences he has observed since their time together with the Brooklyn Nets.



“He’s more relaxed, I think that was his first head coaching job at Brooklyn, you know, and it’s like it’s a hard job,” Allen said during an interview on The Young Man and the Three podcast. “Probably just his confidence and trust in his ideas to propel us forward, it’s a noticeable difference.”



Allen played under <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kenny-atkinson">Atkinson</a> during his tenure with the Nets from 2016 to 2020. Kenny’s first head coaching role came after stints as an assistant with Paris Basket Racing, the New York Knicks, and the Atlanta Hawks. According to Allen, the transition from assistant to head coach was challenging, but Atkinson has since gained invaluable experience.



“I understand that now that after Brooklyn he went to the Clippers, then he went to Golden State and he was just getting so much more experience,” the center added, reflecting on Atkinson’s growth before joining Cleveland.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241124_BUS_278996_Jarrett-Allen-1024x576_d6bf6a3d.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of a preseason game at the United Center on October 18, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois." class="wp-image-278998" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Jarrett-Allen-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Jarrett-Allen-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Jarrett-Allen-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Jarrett-Allen-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Jarrett-Allen-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Jarrett-Allen-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Jarrett-Allen-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Jarrett-Allen.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of a preseason game at the United Center on October 18, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Atkinson’s unique coaching style</h2>



During the conversation, Jarrett Allen shared an intriguing detail about Kenny Atkinson’s coaching approach with the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Whenever we do a film session, we always start with something funny,” Allen revealed. “Whether it’s a play from the game or making fun of one of our teammates, we always kick things off with a laugh. It just makes everything so much easier moving forward.”



This insight underscores Atkinson’s emphasis on creating a positive and relaxed atmosphere to foster better performances from his players. “Kenny is just a good dude,” the 26-year-old center noted. He also praised Atkinson’s tactical expertise, adding, “On the basketball side, he’s a genius.”


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<h2>What’s next for Cleveland?</h2>



The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cleveland-cavaliers">Cavaliers</a> responded to their loss against the Boston Celtics by bouncing back with a commanding 128-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Their offensive firepower and resilience were on full display, reinforcing their position as one of the league’s top contenders.



Next up, Cleveland will host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, followed by another home game against the Atlanta Hawks three days later. Both matchups present the Cavaliers with an opportunity to extend their impressive start to the season.

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NBA News: Mitchell reveals Cavaliers HC Kenny Atkinson&#039;s fiery reaction during win over Bulls

NBA News: Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen praises coach Atkinson's huge transformation since Brooklyn days - Bolavip US

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are undoubtedly the hottest team in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba">NBA</a> right now, boasting a perfect 14-0 record that has them sitting atop the league standings. Despite their dominant 144-126 win over the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Emirates Cup, Donovan Mitchell revealed that head coach Kenny Atkinson was anything but satisfied at halftime.



It seems Atkinson has little tolerance for defensive lapses, even in high-scoring wins. According to Mitchell, the coach’s fiery halftime reaction sent a clear message to the team, as the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cleveland-cavaliers">Cavaliers</a> led the Bulls 77-73 at the break.



“He came in here (the locker room) at halftime and slammed a flip-flop because he was upset we gave up 73 points,” Mitchell shared. “That’s what we want. That’s how we get better. Obviously, we haven’t lost, but how do you find ways to continue to build good habits? It’s by continuing to coach us hard and not let in any room for mental errors or lapses. That’s what you want in a coach.”



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/donovan-mitchell">Mitchell</a> emphasized the importance of tough love from Atkinson, adding, “When you’re playing, you hear how good you are. You hear about the streaks. You hear about all the positives. … [Coaching us hard] is what we want. I think we all prefer to hear how good we are on a daily basis, and sometimes we hear how bad we are when we miss a parlay or whatever, but I think for us, that’s how you get better.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241116_BUS_273939_donovan-mitchell-1-1-1024x576_90e1e333.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-273941" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/donovan-mitchell-1-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/donovan-mitchell-1-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/donovan-mitchell-1-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/donovan-mitchell-1-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/donovan-mitchell-1-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/donovan-mitchell-1-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/donovan-mitchell-1-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/donovan-mitchell-1-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Donovan Mitchell #45 talks to head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Atkinson highlights defensive issues</h2>



After the game, Atkinson addressed the team’s defensive struggles in the first half but credited their adjustments after the break as the key to victory.


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“We definitely did not play great defensively, but it’s also like the shot-making as a league right now is incredible,” Atkinson admitted. “What I didn’t like about the first half, we only turned them over twice. I think in the second half, we turned them over 13 times, and that’s what we got ‘em on.”



<h2>Cavs appreciate Atkinson’s coaching</h2>



Ahead of the game against the Bulls, Atkinson mentioned that his players actively ask him to push them harder. “They always ask me, ‘Coach us harder,’” Atkinson said pregame. “It’s amazing. ‘Hey, Coach, you’re showing too many positive clips.’ They want to know how they can get better. As a coach, I always try to err on the side of positive — win, lose, or draw — but we have a lot of progress to make. We have a lot of areas to improve.”



Mitchell echoed this sentiment postgame, reiterating that a demanding approach is what will help them sustain their early success. “How do you find ways to continue to build habits?” Mitchell said. “And it’s continuing to coach, coaching hard. And not letting room for any mental errors or any lapses.”

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NBA News: Mitchell reveals Cavaliers HC Kenny Atkinson's fiery reaction during win over Bulls - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-sixers-have-a-candidate-in-mind-in-case-doc-rivers-leaves-20220504-0036.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Doc Rivers</a>‘ appointment as the Philadelphia 76ers’ coach was met with some skepticism. He was coming off <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-playoffs-how-many-times-has-doc-rivers-blown-a-3-1-series-lead-20220428-0015.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blowing yet another 3-1 playoff lead</a>, and his rotations raised eyebrows left and right across the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-playoffs-the-shameful-record-doc-rivers-sixers-hope-to-avoid-this-year-20220427-0041.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA.</a>
Rivers took over, and his first season came to a somewhat predictable outcome. Way too many bench minutes, blown leads, and failure to close out a series. Still, the organization decided to keep him around.
The Sixers went through a bit of a roster shake-up and gave Rivers yet another star. But regardless of the personnel and the regular-season success, the outcome was the same. For better or worse, Doc will be Doc. That’s why here, we discuss three potential candidates the Sixers should consider <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-sixers-players-are-getting-tired-of-doc-rivers-20220401-0013.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to replace him.</a>
<h2>NBA Rumors: 3 Coaching Candidates Sixers Should Replace Doc Rivers With</h2>
<h3>3. Quin Snyder</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="397" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:397" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220515_BUS_190746_quin_snyder.jpg_631782975_2c0d27b9.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=397" width="740" height="397"></figure><figcaption> Quin Snyder – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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There has been some rumbling around the league about Quin Snyder leaving the Utah Jazz. He’s still under contract, so it’s likely that the Sixers would have to give up any sort of compensation for his services.
Snyder has turned the Jazz into a perennial playoff team, and having a one-two punch of Tyrese Maxey/James Harden – Joel Embiid in the pick and roll would undoubtedly be an upgrade for him.
He hasn’t found much success in the postseason, but Embiid is a much more versatile defender than Rudy Gobert and won’t be a liability in the perimeter. He may not be available, but he’s worth the shot.
<h3>2. Kenny Atkinson</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="397" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:397" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220515_BUS_190746_kenny_atkinson.jpg_631782975_874c6caf.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=397" width="740" height="397"></figure><figcaption> Kenny Atkinson – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Kenny Atkinson led the Brooklyn Nets to the playoffs when they were a team made of scraps. He put together one of the best offenses in the Association and was vital in developing D’Angelo Russell, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert.
The Nets fired Atkinson simply because Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving wanted a more prominent name— or their very own puppet— on the coaching seat. There was no validreason to let him go after the job he did.
Atkinson has drawn interest around the league during this coaching cycle after spending some time as Steve Kerr’s assistant. He could take Maxey to a whole new level and revamp Philly’s dormant offense.
<h3>1. Mike D’Antoni</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="397" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:397" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220515_BUS_190746_mike_dxantoni.jpg_631782975_87786cc7.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=397" width="740" height="397"></figure><figcaption> Mike D’Antoni- Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Mike D’Antoni is one of the best offensive minds in all of basketball. He’s way overqualified to be a consultant or an assistant, and it’s been way too long since he last got a head coaching opportunity.
If the Sixers are committed to James Harden— and you know Daryl Morey would give his life forThe Beard—then they should strongly consider reuniting him with his former Houston Rockets coach.
D’Antoni brought out the best of Harden and turned him into the most unstoppable scorer in the league. He’s not that player anymore, but let’s not forget those Rockets were one game away from the NBA Finals under his command.

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NBA Rumors: 3 Doc Rivers replacements Sixers should consider - Bolavip US

kenny atkinson