CLEVELAND, Ohio — In the aftermath of the Cavs’ 114-104 loss to the Houston Rockets, head coach Kenny Atkinson delivered four words that sent shockwaves through the fan base and left the Wine and Gold Talk podcast hosts stunned: “We’re not built that way.”
The startling admission came as Atkinson addressed his team’s inability to match Houston’s physicality and rebounding prowess – a concerning statement about a team constructed around two big men in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
“He said that’s obviously their strength. We’re not built that way. Think about that,” said Chris Fedor, cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter, clearly stunned by the coach’s candor. “Like, he is fueling so many of these things that people already think and already say about the Cavs.”
What makes Atkinson’s comment particularly alarming is how it validates long-standing criticisms of Cleveland’s roster construction. The Cavaliers built their identity around a two-big lineup, ostensibly to dominate the paint and control the glass. But as the podcast discussed that theoretical advantage simply hasn’t materialized.
“The reason you build a two big construction with your roster is so that you’ll be awesome protecting the rim and you’ll secure the glass,” explained Jimmy Watkins, cleveland.com columnist. “It hasn’t happened and that has nothing to do with Darius Garland being injured or Max Strus being injured. This has just been a fact for a long time now.”
What’s particularly concerning is that these issues persist regardless of injury status. While the Cavs can point to missing Darius Garland and Max Strus as reasons for offensive struggles, the rebounding and physicality problems aren’t areas those two guards thrive in.
The Wine and Gold Talk discussion expanded beyond just one game, examining whether this perceived lack of toughness represents a fundamental flaw in the team’s makeup.
Ethan Sands, Wine and Gold Talk podcast host, cut to the heart of Cleveland’s struggles: “The Cavs to me don’t have an identity right now because it is based on who they have on the floor and who was available to them. And that’s not an identity.”
What makes this identity crisis particularly concerning is how it contrasts with their opponents. While the Cavaliers seem to change who they are based on availability, the Houston Rockets maintain a clear, consistent approach regardless of lineup fluctuations.
“Houston’s offense looks ugly, it looks really ugly. You notice the absence of a point guard. But you know what? They’re figuring it out now. They’re unique. They play a different style,” noted Watkins. “No Fred VanVleet tonight, no Tari Eason tonight, no Dorian Finney-Smith.”
The hosts highlighted Houston coach Ime Udoka’s approach to building identity — the Rockets know exactly who they are: a physical, aggressive team that crashes the boards and imposes their will. This clarity of purpose allows them to maintain their style even when missing key contributors.
By contrast, the Cavaliers seem to lose their way without specific players available. Rather than having a foundation that remains constant, Cleveland appears to redefine itself game-by-game based on the lineup.
“We can’t let anyone come in here and punk us in any kind of game,” forward DeAndre Hunter told reporters after the game.
Why would a veteran need to make such a declaration unless there were legitimate questions about the team’s toughness and identity?
“There is a reputation surrounding this Cavs team, and every team seems to want to test that reputation,” Fedor observed, pointing to a troubling pattern that continues from last season’s disappointing playoff exit.
Perhaps most concerning is how this lack of identity impacts the team’s championship aspirations. As the podcast discussed, great teams know exactly who they are and force opponents to adapt to them — not the other way around.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder, the champs. If anybody has built up enough credibility to take their foot off the gas for a regular season, say, hey, we’ve proved it already … J-Dub hasn’t played a single game yet,” Watkins pointed out. “Oklahoma City’s churning along, bringing the juice on defense. Maybe it’s because they’re ‘built that way.’ Maybe it’s not the roster that’s built that way. Maybe it is the players who are built the right way.”
As the Wine and Gold Talk podcast made painfully clear, until the Cavaliers develop a consistent, reliable identity that persists regardless of who’s available, their championship dreams may remain just that — dreams. For a team with such lofty ambitions, finding their true identity has never been more urgent.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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