CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs became the first NBA team since 2015 to go scoreless in an overtime period, falling 119-111 to one of the league’s worst teams in the Charlotte Hornets.
The most stunning aspect wasn’t the defeat itself, but rather how it unfolded – with Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson refusing to make a single substitution during the extra period as his visibly exhausted players floundered.
This is the same coach who continuously preaches about “experimentation” and “flexibility” in his lineup decisions. The same coach who told reporters earlier this season about the importance of finding combinations that maximize his players’ talents. Yet when the game tightened, that philosophy vanished.
“But when the game tightens, that experimentation keeps getting shelved,” Ethan Sands, host of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, pointed out. “And that happened in the Indiana Pacers series in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year. And now it’s happening in an 82-game regular season against the Charlotte Hornets.”
The disconnect between Atkinson’s words and actions has become impossible to ignore.
Consider rookie Tyrese Proctor, who injected immediate energy when inserted at the start of the fourth quarter, helping Cleveland force overtime – then never saw the floor again when fresh legs were desperately needed.
Thomas Bryant contributed 10 points and 6 rebounds in just 14 minutes but barely played late.
Meanwhile, Dean Wade – admirable as his effort was – remained at center during overtime despite clear fatigue from battling bigger players all night.
When questioned about De’Andre Hunter’s struggles (1-of-7 shooting, 4 points) and potential lineup adjustments, Atkinson responded: “I look at it like it’s on me to find the combinations. Right now, we’re not finding the combinations that fit him best. Everything’s always on the table, so we’ll look at it.”
That hesitant, vague answer reflects the indecisiveness that’s creeping into Atkinson’s game management. He offers lip service to flexibility while rigid patterns emerge in his rotations.
Perhaps most concerning is his handling of young players like Craig Porter Jr., who continues to operate on what Sands calls “a short leash.”
“If there’s a bad stint and there’s a slow start, if there’s not something that is being done correctly in Kenny Atkinson’s eyes, he completely shuts the water off rather than continuing to give them spurts to see if they can re-acclimate or change the narrative for that particular game,” Sands explained.
Atkinson’s defense of the small-ball lineup with Wade at center revealed his thinking: “We all just felt like we needed to go small, we needed to space the floor. And Dean can hold his own at the 5, obviously. I thought he did a heck of a job, really, that lineup kind of kind of got us back in the game.”
But this explanation ignores the reality of player fatigue in an NBA overtime period and the fresh options available on his bench. As Sands noted, “Having energy late matters.”
With Evan Mobley sidelined and a grueling December schedule ahead, Atkinson’s ability to manage his roster – especially knowing when to trust his bench – may determine whether the Cavaliers can stay afloat in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.
Listen to the complete Wine and Gold Talk podcast for Ethan Sands’ full breakdown of Atkinson’s coaching decisions and what must change before it’s too late for the 2025-26 Cavaliers.
Here’s the podcast for this week: