The Cleveland Cavaliers fell apart in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, letting a game slip away that they certainly should’ve won.
While the Cavs were underdogs going into the matchup, they had a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter that ultimately went to waste.
The way head coach Kenny Atkinson managed the game has led to some major backlash around the basketball world in the aftermath, and 2016 Cavs champion Channing Frye shared that he was “screaming” at cruising altitude while watching the squad throw the game away.
“Kenny Atkinson, brother, I don’t criticize coaching a lot,” Frye began. “At a certain point, as the guy controlling the rudder to the boat, the motor to the boat, the captain, one, call a f—— timeout. Okay, obviously, that’s too much, right. Two, if James Harden is getting the belt, take him out the game. Put somebody else in for five minutes.
“You let Jalen Brunson go one-on-one. I’m on the plane screaming, ‘What are y’all doing just letting him get cooked like that and everyone’s watching him?’ … You gotta adjust.”
Atkinson’s timeout management has been a major topic of conversation in the aftermath of the loss. In his postgame presser, he explained that he likes to “hold” his timeouts.
“I like to hold my timeouts… I try to hold them.”
~ A real life actual postgame quote from Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson after calling ONE (SINGULAR) timeout during a 30-8 run to end the 4th quarter in regulation & blow a 22 point lead pic.twitter.com/0ETB2d3GWP
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) May 20, 2026
Atkinson’s management of Harden in the game has also been questioned by many, not just Frye. The veteran guard was attacked by the Knicks on the defensive end, which played a major role in New York’s comeback.
Even offensively, Harden didn’t have a great game, as he shot 5-of-16 from the field and 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. Despite all of that, Atkinson gave Harden more minutes than anyone else in Game 1.
Frye likely wasn’t the only one losing his mind while watching the Cavs lose Game 1. However, the only option is to move forward, as the team still has a chance to compete with the Knicks in the series. A win in Game 2 would even swing home-court advantage in Cleveland’s favor.
Atkinson will need to adjust during the remainder of the series, and Harden will need to find a way to be more like the version of the player the Cavs hoped they were trading for.
Cleveland should feel good about the fact that it was able to reach the Eastern Conference Finals this season, but if the team blows a chance to make the NBA Finals by losing some winnable games, the good vibes might not carry over into the offseason.
