New Face in Cleveland

Out with the Old - In with the New 

    The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in search of a coach after dismissing J.B. Bickerstaff right after their season ended. This search was not as extensive as it may have seemed for fans of Cleveland as they were able to find a replacement a little over a month after the previous departure. The new head coach goes by the name of Kenny Atkinson and in this short article I will note his upbringing, key skills and reasons for being welcomed into the Cavaliers Organization. 

Who is Kenny Atkinson? 

    Kenny Atkinson is a former collegiate player for the University of Richmond, leading the team to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1988 and pro player overseas in Europe who received an opportunity to coach in the early 2000s and has had some notable success in the NBA in his roles as a Head or Assistant coach. 

Coaching Experience 

    Atkinson began as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks in 2008 and then transitioned to the Atlanta Hawks from 2012-2016. This Atlanta team was most notable for winning 60 games in the 2014-15 season and making the Eastern Conference Finals. Atkinson then moved to a head coaching role with the Brooklyn Nets, having a strong influence on leading that team to their best season in between the KG/Pierce and KD/Kyrie years. With a breakout season from D’Angelo Russel in 2018-2019, winning 42 games with the help of some familiar players for Cavs fans- Jarret Allen and Caris LeVert. 

    Atkinson moved over to Los Angeles as an assistant coach at the start of the 2020-2021 season to help push the Kawhi/PG Led Clippers over the hump; winning 47 games, finishing 4^th in the west and making the Western Conference Finals despite Kawhi Leonard sustaining a season ending injury in the 2^nd round. His last stop before this recent signing was with an old rival of the Cavaliers- The Golden State Warriors. While they have been in a rocky transition since their Golden Years for most of the 2020s, Kerr and Atkinson did manage to help lead that team to an NBA Championship in 2022 with some heroics from Stephen Curry and great performances from guys like Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins. 

Conclusion 

    Kenny Atkinson is highly regarded for his ability to develop young talent and improve players' skills, implementing offensive systems that prioritize ball movement and diverse attacking styles with his use of analytics to firmly make decisions. Making his way to Cleveland where things can become stagnant at times during games, this may be a great match for what they want to accomplish offensively.

 

The Ring Season is Complete

 

The Success of the Boston Celtics

This has been a season to remember for many. For each team it was another learning experience. The one team that took everything they learned and applied it to achieve the highest level of success in the league is one that now holds the record for most NBA Championships at 18. The Boston Celtics, led by Joe Mazzulla, Jaylen Brown (FMVP) and Jayson Tatum. In this article I will go through a deep dive of what it took for them to get to this spot.

The Mastermind

The Boston Celtics should be extremely grateful for their recently named “Executive of the Year,” Brad Stevens. He is truly the mastermind behind this team and have put them in more of a comfortable space than most teams in the NBA. With the new CBA in effect, The Celtics may be the only team that can avoid any of the ramifications that it may cause for other teams. 

Brad Stevens has made some tough yet great decisions for his organization. He made a number of moves this offseason that greatly benefitted the Celtics. The first one involved getting rid of a former Defensive Player of the Year and longtime Celtics player, Marcus Smart. This turned into one of the biggest steals of the Summer in 2023. The Celtics acquired Kristaps Porzingis in a 3-team trade that sent Tyus Jones to the Wizards and Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies. With his next move, he acquired a 2way guard by the name of Jrue Holiday, recent champion with the Milwaukee Bucks and a pivotal piece to their success. The Celtics were able to pull off another heist by trading two injured players- Rob Williams and Malcolm Brogdon along with an unprotected first round pick and the Golden State Warriors’ 2024 first round pick to the Blazers for Holiday.

Regular Season Dominance

The Celtics entered the postseason as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, boasting an impressive 64-18 regular-season record. Their success was fueled by a well-balanced offensive attack and a stifling defense, ranking first in offensive efficiency and second in defensive efficiency. This team was almost something similar of what we saw from the Prime Warriors and Cavaliers form 2014-17. The playstyle and team build was reminiscent of those two teams, prioritizing strength in numbers, size/physicality and shooting. Pure Dominance across the board running a primarily 5-out offense with snipers spread around the floor gave teams problems that were ultimately unstoppable in the end.

Playoff Dominance

The Boston Celtics were transcendent in the postseason, ending with a 16-3 record- going up against the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers and the Dallas Mavericks. This was an historic feat for them, and it proved that they were truly deserving of this championship because of their grit and discipline in close games and especially during their commanding wins. Overall, this also clinched them another spot in history with an 80-21 record throughout the regular season and postseason. This marks the second time they have done this in the 21st century and makes them one of the 11 teams to win 80% of their games and win the NBA championship

Conclusion

The Boston Celtics etched their name in NBA history by capturing their 18th championship title, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals with Jaylen Brown wining Finals MVP. Ironically, winning this championship on 6/17 coordinates with their area code (617). It also marks the second time they’ve done this in the 21st century. All in all, this triumph not only solidified their legacy but also showcased their remarkable depth, resilience, and unwavering determination throughout the playoffs.

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2024 NBA Finals: Key Highlights and Takeaways So Far

The 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks have been a showcase of dominance, strategy, and standout performances.  Here are some of the major takeaways from the first two games of the series.

Key Highlights from Game 1: Celtics' Dominance and Porzingis Return

Score: Boston Celtics 107, Dallas Mavericks 89

The Celtics came out firing out on all cylinders, taking a 29-point lead in the 2nd quarter. Their crazy shot-making, great defense, and production level from players like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White were pivotal in their victory. Boston's team defense was locked in, blocking five dunks or layup attempts. Dallas tried their best to make it a competitive game but was ultimately met with halting force by the Celtics. The Celtics' strategy to force Luka Doncic into a role that would limit his passing and playmaking, by mucking up the matchups and making it tough for the rest of the team to flourish. Doncic recorded only one assist, a season low for him in the playoffs. 

Kristaps Porzingis returning from a long absence due to a calf injury he sustained in the first round. Porzingis made a significant impact with eleven points and three blocked shots in his first seven minutes on the court. Porzingis's presence was felt both offensively and defensively, providing a much-needed boost for the Celtics.

Key Highlights from Game 2: Holiday's Heroics and Celtics' Depth

Score: Boston Celtics 105, Dallas Mavericks 98

Jrue Holiday provided some much-needed assistance in game 2, leading the Celtics with 26 points and 11 rebounds, showing the world that he can be a prime-time player on the biggest stage in basketball. Holiday's first-half dominance set the stage for Boston's victory, scoring 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting. While both teams were struggling from 3 and while the Mavericks were struggling to pull away, Jrue was making his mark on the game.

Despite Luka Doncic's impressive 32-point, 11-rebound, and 11-assist effort, it wasn't enough to secure a win for the Mavericks. His performance highlighted the need for more support from his teammates. It is noteworthy to add that Luka also added 8 turnovers to this stat line, making it harder for the team have any type of security on this game. Along with some sub-par defense, as much credit as you can give to Luka individually, you can credit him with giving this game away.

The Celtics' defense was crucial in Game 2, with key stops and blocks in the fourth quarter helping to seal the victory. Derrick White's game-sealing block and Holiday's steal were pivotal moments. Jayson Tatum, despite struggling with his shooting, contributed significantly with 12 assists. His ability to impact the game in other ways was impressive.

Kyrie Irving's Underwhelming Performances:

Irving struggled, scoring only 12 points and missing all five of his 3-point attempts, going 6-19 from the field. His inability to finish plays and the Celtics' defensive pressure contributed to his subpar performance. He followed up this performance with another below average game. He totaled 16 points, missing all of his 3-point attempts once again, going 7-18 from the field. He is struggling to find his way in this NBA Finals. For a player that is deemed as the “most skilled player ever,” he is not showing us why he was given that title by many on social media.

Series Outlook

The Celtics hold a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, showcasing their depth, defensive strength, and offensive versatility. The Mavericks, on the other hand, need to find additional scoring support for Doncic from their number two option and improve their shooting efficiency as team to turn the series around. As the series shifts to Dallas, the Mavericks will need to make significant adjustments to avoid falling into an insurmountable deficit.

Minnesota Timberwolves: A Season to remark upon

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves had an exceptional 2023-24 NBA season, spearheaded by significant success and standout performances. Establishing a new leader in Anthony Edwards, this group has found its stride in this league and the future is bright for them. This article provides a comprehensive overview of their season, including regular-season performance, key players, postseason journey, and notable accolades

 Regular Season Performance 

The Timberwolves finished the regular season with a much hope to move forward. With a record of 56-26, that placed them third in the Western Conference, narrowly missing the top seed due to tiebreaker scenarios involving the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. The team's success was driven by a combination of strong defense and balanced offensive contributions

Amongst great team performance, a star was born. Anthony Edwards proved he can embrace the role of leader in the locker room. Edwards led the team in scoring and was the key piece in keeping this team glued together and giving them the confidence to prevail throughout the season. He played a pivotal role in several key victories throughout the season. Ant, KAT and Rudy along with guys like Mcdaniels, Mike Conley, and Naz Reid helped bring an historic milestone, netting their second-best record in franchise history, showing that they are a team to fear in the upcoming years.

Defense reigns supreme

With the team anchoring in the top-ranked in the NBA with a defensive rating of 108.4, there must be some credit given to the man in the middle by the name of Rudy Gobert. Gobert had another standout season on the defensive end, earning the 2023-24 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. Averaging 2.13 blocks per game and anchoring the Timberwolves' defense- He became the first player in franchise history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award and joined an elite group of players with four such titles. With Rudy at head of the charge, it gave the other guys a will to play harder every single night and this prowess got them as far as the Western Conference Finals.

Offensive Improvements and (Im)Balance

The Minnesota Timberwolves experienced some improvements and some woes throughout the entirety of the season including the playoffs. The 2022-23 season saw them at 115.8 ppg which was 13^th in the league and an offensive rating of 113.7. This was good enough for a 42-40 record and placed the offense in stagnant state at times which can be a recipe for disaster, especially during the postseason.

During the 23-24 season, the Wolves dropped off from the previous year at 113.0 ppg but picked up on the Offensive Rating with 115.6. When you see this, you would have to question if they got worse or not, even with the Offensive rating increasing. This was not the case during the season. With them picking up on the defensive side of the ball, it gave them more chances to take their time on offense and get quality shots. The only problem with this is in the most pivotal times, the stagnancy that hindered them the previous season is what ultimately ended up being the problem against the Mavericks (along with great defense by the Mavs) in the WCF. They will have to take a deep dive look at what can prevent this in the future.

Conclusion

The 2023-24 season was a milestone year for the Minnesota Timberwolves, marked by significant individual performances and team achievements. With a strong core of players and a solid defensive foundation, the Timberwolves have set the stage for continued success in the coming seasons. Despite falling short in the playoffs, the team's performance has instilled hope and excitement among fans, promising a bright future for the franchise.