CLEVELAND — As Kenny Atkinson prepared for his debut as Cavaliers coach , albeit in a meaningless preseason game his team lost 116-112 to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night , he listened to Bruce Springsteen tunes.
It's fitting because the new Cavs boss was “Born to Run,” as evidenced by how he has his team operating.
There's an emphasis on Cleveland's offense playing faster. It showed in the first half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, especially with the usual starting five deployed. Meanwhile, there's also a concerted effort being made to maintain the defensive identity the Cavs forged under the guidance of Atkinson's predecessor, J.B. Bickerstaff .
But this is the most encouraging aspect of Atkinson's approach as he readies the Cavs for their Oct. 23 regular-season opener at Toronto: The coach knows it's vital to build relationships with players during his honeymoon phase because adversity will inevitably strike at some point. When it does, having a foundation of trust already established will be crucial.
“That's one thing I'm going to really hold myself accountable to as the season goes, keeping those relationships strong, keeping it going,” Atkinson said. “Maybe my first time through [as a head coach], it wasn't the greatest.
“I almost got almost too caught up in coaching, if that makes sense. Like, 'Man, coach the team. Make sure shootaround is perfect,' where maybe I think this time around, I'm going to shift it towards relationships. It's more important.”
Atkinson acknowledging his shortcomings in three-plus seasons at the helm of the Brooklyn Nets (2016-20) is positive because the Cavs are counting on him to improve and make a franchise-altering difference.
“When you get back in it [as a head coach], you want to be better than the last time,” Atkinson said. “So I definitely feel an energy, a good energy, with that.”
Coming off last season's 4-3 series win over the Orlando Magic in Round 1 of the playoffs and a 4-1 series loss to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cavs chose to run it back with virtually identical personnel.
By opting for a level of continuity seldom seen in the NBA, the organization led by chairman Dan Gilbert and president of basketball operations Koby Altman is telling everyone it believes its roster decisions are correct and a coaching upgrade ought to prove the assertion with deeper playoff runs.
Whether Atkinson is actually better than Bickerstaff will be determined by postseason results amid a championship quest, yet the Cavs have certainly bet on him giving them a boost. What's crystal clear is they will be different in philosophy and style under Atkinson than they were with Bickerstaff.
The Cavs are looking to push the pace. They're looking to screen, move and cut more without the ball. They're looking to shoot more 3-pointers and sprint to spots to create opportunities for outside shots, especially within the first eight seconds of the shot clock. They're looking to use forward Evan Mobley more as a playmaker and ball handler to increase spacing when he's on the floor with center Jarrett Allen . They're looking to avoid becoming stagnant. They're looking to resist standing in the corners and waiting for chances to materialize from deep. They're looking to create fluid, efficient offense instead of it appearing at times to be a chore.
Still, Atkinson estimated defense has been the focus for roughly 60% of Cavs training camp thus far.
“We've got to lean on that. That's our strength,” Atkinson said. “It'd be a mistake if I come in here ... and say, 'OK. All of a sudden, we need to improve our offense, so let's just throw everything in that bucket.' It doesn't work that way.”
Three of the most interesting observations Cavs players have shared about Atkinson provide insight into what to expect from him when the real games begin.
Allen , who played for Atkinson in Brooklyn, said the coach possesses “a certain way of doing things that aren't popular with the masses.” Think intense, passionate and demanding.
“He's a very energetic guy, and he's going to tell you how things need to be,” Allen said. “Sometimes I could see it coming off the hard way, but he's going to push you because I truly think he understands that everybody can become a better player.”
Small forward Isaac Okoro said Atkinson and his assistants explain their methods in ways players appreciate. An appetite for a different voice is something Altman cited while explaining why the Cavs fired Bickerstaff in May.
“[We're] working on specific things and [they're] telling us why we're working on it, not just going out there and just doing it because they say,” Okoro said.
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell revealed Atkinson gave players ownership of the huddle when he called a timeout in the preseason opener. The strategy forced the players to talk through what they were sensing on the floor.
“That first timeout was just quiet, and it's like, 'All right. What do y'all see?' I think that's something that really can help a group like us continuing to take that step,” Mitchell said. “It's going to be about communication, and I think that's something that's truly impressive.”
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Atkinson has noticed the camaraderie the Cavs have in the locker room, and he's already trying to capitalize on it. He has overseen players in the past who didn't get along the way this group does, so he wants to highlight the benefits of quality chemistry.
“If we can enjoy, compete our tails off and make our improvement, but really enjoy this process, this 82-game season we're going to go through, I'll tell you it's going to make my life [easier],” Atkinson said. “I'm going to sleep a lot better, and they're going to sleep a lot better.”
All of it sounds good right now, but how much fun the Cavs will really have hinges on whether they'll achieve their dreams with Atkinson.
More on Cavs in preseason opener: Cavaliers lose to the Chicago Bulls in coach Kenny Atkinson's Cleveland debut
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson's focus on relationships, communication is encouraging | Ulrich
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