Former Cleveland head coach Mike Fratello says the Cavaliers still have enough resilience to recover from their dramatic Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
Speaking with Andy Baskin and Jeff Phelps on 92.3 The Fan, Fratello recalled how Cleveland surrendered a 22-point fourth-quarter advantage before falling in overtime. “Just about everything had to go a certain way for New York to pull that out,” he said, citing missed free throws, turnovers, and ill-timed long jumpers as key factors.
Cleveland finished the night shooting 40 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc while committing 19 turnovers—many during the decisive stretch. Fratello noted that ball-handling issues had already plagued the club in earlier rounds against Detroit and Toronto.
Despite the collapse, Fratello stressed that a best-of-seven series offers room for recovery. “They did it against Toronto, against Detroit—why can’t it happen again?” he said, reminding listeners that the Cavaliers won a Game 7 on the road in Detroit after dropping Game 6 at home.
The former coach also addressed criticism of current coach Kenny Atkinson, who waited until after an 18-1 Knicks run to call timeout. Fratello argued the entire staff shares responsibility for game management, saying assistants should speak up when momentum turns.
If he were addressing the locker room, Fratello said he would first acknowledge coaching errors, then review film to confront turnovers, missed free throws, and defensive lapses. “Make the players understand that you’re part of this whole thing,” he explained.
Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night, giving Cleveland its first opportunity to even the series.
Source: Hoops Wire
