Former NBA star says he would fire Kenny Atkinson after ‘analytics’ comments
· Yahoo Sports
The Cavaliers are on the verge of being swept by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, but Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson claims his team is “analytically” winning the series.
In the real world, the Knicks are up 3-0 and can close it out Monday night in Cleveland and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
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“We’ve had success against this team before. We’ve had really good moments,” Atkinson told reporters. “In this series, up [20 points in] Game 1. Even Game 2, take that run out from the beginning of the third quarter, and it’s pretty tight. I think analytically, I think we’ve won I said three out of three, I think we’re two out of three in the [expected score] … we’ve won two out of three. And I know you’re looking confused, but … if you believe in process and all that, take that layer.
“I don’t throw that on them. I see it for myself. We have this feeling, I have this feeling, then I can go to our analytical table … last night, the expected score was like one point or two. Us shooting way below expected, them shooting way over.”
He added: “I know when no one wants to hear that. I think [the media likes] hearing it. I know the general public, no one wants to hear it. Everyone’s outcome-based, I get that, too.”
The Knicks once again dominated the Cavaliers, 123-108, in Game 3 Saturday night as Cleveland shot 29 percent from deep and 12-of-19 from the foul line.
The Cavaliers also blew a 22-point lead in Game 1.
Former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Eddie Johnson says he would fire Atkinson after all that’s transpired.
“If I was the GM I would think about that decision (of firing Atkinson),” he said Monday on SiriusXM NBA radio.
“It’s not working for me….I hope they don’t (fire him)," he added.
‘You’re hired to be fired so enjoy your vacation as a coach…Right now Atkinson is on borrowed time."
His colleague Justin Termine added:
“I don’t know if anyone likes those (Atkinson) comments (about analytics), they were insane.
“If Mike Brown made those comments, he would be fired before Game 4.”
Charles Barkley wasn’t feeling Atkinson’s comments, either, saying on “Inside the NBA”:
“You’re damn skippy we don’t want to hear it.
“Not the general public, Ernie, Shaq and Chuck and Kenny don’t want to hear it, either.”
Brown and the Knicks have won 10 straight playoff games and haven’t lost in more than a month - since April 23.
They had won 10 total playoff games from 2000-25.
Asked about analytics, Knicks wing Josh Hart said: “I’m never a huge analytics guy. At a certain point they’re a lamp post to a drunk person. You can lean on ‘em, but it won’t get you home.”
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