Kenny Atkinson of the Cavaliers awards coach of the year to peers – Basketball insider
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson was named Coach of the Year by the National Basketball Coaches Association.
The award is different from the NBA Coach of the Year, which will be announced later.
Atkinson replaced JB Bickerstaff as head coach in the summer and planned the Cavaliers' surge to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers increased their wins by 16 respectively from last season, ending with a second-biggest win in the league of 64.
It was Cleveland's first 60-win season since 2009-10 years and the first roster without Lebron James. They will play against the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
Bickerstaff was considered for his work to lift the Detroit Pistons to the playoffs this season and improved by 30 wins. Oklahoma City Thunder's Mark Digneault and Houston Rockets' Ime Udoka were also considered. Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is also one of the candidates.
Malone was fired just a week before the playoffs.
The Knight begins chasing the title
Cleveland learned about its first round opponent Friday night after the Miami Heat became the first 10th seed to advance from the mid-game tournament to the playoffs.
On paper, a team that scored 64-18 in the regular season was as unbalanced as a team that beat 37-45. Regardless of their record, one can always expect a high level of competition and intensity for the Miami team led by Erik Spoelstra. That doesn't mean they're threatening to win the series in any way, but in reality, it's a very healthy way for Cleveland to start the playoffs.
The Cavaliers have been able to take a break from players like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley to reduce pain and pain. Now is the time to get ready for full throttle.
