Cavaliers HC Kenny Atkinson Clears Stance on Locker Room Chemistry as Darius Garland Confesses Massive Concern

There’s no doubt that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been dominating the rest of the league this season. However, they’ve hit a slight slump recently; Kenny Atkinson’s men haven’t quite looked like their dominant selves over the past few games. While their record remains impressive, Cleveland has struggled defensively, and some of their stars haven’t been at their best. This was evident once again when they faced a short-handed Spurs team. Despite a spectacular first-half performance that saw them lead by nearly 20 points at halftime, they narrowly avoided a scare in Texas. Do these small collapses indicate a deeper issue? Or are they simply getting too comfortable after securing a playoff spot?

Well, head coach Kenny Atkinson has been saying that this isn’t the best his team can do. We’re well aware of that, given their stellar 62-15 record this season. The team knows this isn’t the end. In fact, it’s just the beginning. There’s still a lot left to accomplish this season. But seeing the team go through this rough patch—would Kenny Atkinson change anything if he had the chance? Absolutely not. The Cavaliers’ boss was asked this question by a reporter following a one-point victory against San Antonio.

“I wouldn’t change anything. I mean, it’s been a great, um, you know, great regular season, and um, we have great chemistry. We have a good group—um, a group that’s trying to, you know, take it to the next level. Um, so, um, as far as changing anything, don’t think—we don’t think we would change,” Atkinson stated after the game.

You have to agree with Atkinson here—his team has been incredible this season. Cleveland has already recorded two 15-game winning streaks during the regular season. Moreover, despite a few hiccups, the mood in the camp is quite upbeat, and the team has built strong chemistry. That’s evident in the backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who have been phenomenal this season. They might be struggling a bit lately with finishing and focus, but who can truly blame them? When you’ve been operating in cruise control for most of the season, it’s human nature to get a little laid-back—or complacent, if you want to call it that.

Furthermore, Cleveland needs just one win to secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference. So, it’s hard to stay emotionally locked in for these late-season games. With only five games left, Kenny Atkinson and his men likely already have one eye on the playoffs. They’re looking to go all the way this season. So, when the business end of the season begins, you can expect them to be focused and back to playing the way we’ve seen them play. However, their starting point guard, Darius Garland, has admitted to a major concern heading into the next stage of the season.

Darius Garland acknowledges a major concern before the Playoffs

While the sky isn’t falling for the Cleveland Cavaliers, they can’t expect to play like this and win a championship. On Friday, they started the game strong but then fell off and barely managed to grab a scrappy win in Texas. Moreover, superstars like Donovan Mitchell haven’t been performing at the level you’d expect from them. Cavs point guard Darius Garland, who had 19 points, two rebounds, and seven assists against the Spurs, shared his thoughts after the win. “Only played 48 minutes but um cherish the win of course. I said it’s always hard to get a win in this league, but definitely finish the game a little bit stronger, um play for 48 full minutes and get up out of here.” Garland said.

Jan 22, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) handles the ball against Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images.

The 25-year-old emphasized that he cherishes the win. However, they need to close out games more convincingly. Why? “Right, yeah, uh, we just can’t let up. We can’t get too comfortable. Uh, when we have a lead, we just have to keep our foot on their necks and try to finish them, instead of taking our foot off the gas and letting them come back in the game, making it a close one,” he added.

Exactly. Cleveland cannot afford to get complacent—that could come back to haunt them, especially against elite opposition. Blowing leads has become a recurring issue for the Cavaliers lately, and if it continues, it won’t be long before they end up on the wrong side of the results.

“Going down in the fourth quarter, uh, it’s not good for us. Especially going into the playoffs and where we want to be—it’s not good for us. But um, we’re still learning, um, and we’re going to get it together at,” he concluded.

Most importantly, this could prove disastrous during the playoffs. The Cavaliers are aiming to win the championship, and if they get too comfortable, who knows? It might all backfire. However, let’s hope they pull it together before the knockout stage and we see Darius Garland and company make a deep playoff run—or maybe even win it all.

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