Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson argued Sunday that advanced metrics paint a far different picture of the Eastern Conference finals than the scoreboard, contending that his club holds an “expected” edge in two of the first three games against the New York Knicks.
Speaking one day after a 121-108 loss in Game 3, Atkinson told reporters in Cleveland that statistical models measuring shot quality and expected efficiency project the Cavaliers as winners of two contests, even though the Knicks lead the best-of-seven series 3-0.
“Our numbers say we should be up in the series,” the coach said, explaining that New York has converted above its projected shooting percentage while Cleveland has fallen short of its own averages.
Knicks shooting surge
New York has claimed every game by double digits, beginning with an 11-point overtime win in Game 1 after erasing a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit. In Game 3 on Saturday, the Knicks hit 56% of their attempts from the field.
ESPN research shows New York has knocked down 42% of its open three-point looks through three games. Cleveland, by contrast, is 21-for-65 (32%) on comparable open shots and went 12-for-41 (29%) overall from deep in Game 3, missing 10 of 17 uncontested attempts.
Historical odds and lingering optimism
The Knicks have won 10 straight games and can reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 with a victory in Game 4 on Monday. No team has ever overturned a 3-0 deficit in an NBA postseason series, yet Atkinson insisted the Cavaliers have shown enough flashes to believe a comeback is possible.
He pointed to Cleveland’s 20-point lead in Game 1 and a tightly contested Game 2 outside of a decisive New York surge early in the third quarter as evidence that the gap is narrower than the results suggest.
Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Source: ESPN
