The Brooklyn Nets initially hired Kenny Atkinson for his first head coaching job in 2016, where he spent three-plus seasons. However, his tenure ended due to an inability to mesh with superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The Cleveland Cavaliers then hired Atkinson for his second head coaching role over the summer, aiming to build on their consecutive postseason appearances.
Heading into Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Cavaliers have matched the best start in team history with 22 wins in their first 26 games, a feat last achieved in the 2008-09 season.
This will be the second meeting of the season between Atkinson’s Cavaliers and his former team, the Nets. In their first encounter on November 9, Cleveland overcame a 12-point deficit through three quarters to win 105-100. The Cavaliers outscored the Nets 35-18 in the fourth quarter, marking their 11th win during their season-opening 15-game winning streak.
That victory was a moment of reflection for Atkinson, who had a 118-190 record with the Nets before being fired on March 7, 2020. After a season as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers and three seasons assisting Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors, Atkinson was hired to succeed J.B. Bickerstaff following Cleveland’s 51-win season in 2022-23 and a 48-win showing last season.
Since their 15-0 start, Cleveland is 7-4 and has won five of their last six games after consecutive losses to the Atlanta Hawks. The Cavaliers have scored at least 110 points in 24 games, with the latest being a 115-105 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday.
Cleveland shot a season-low 39.6 percent but compensated by getting to the foul line 40 times, making 28 free throws.
The Cavaliers played without Evan Mobley due to an ankle injury sustained in a loss to the Miami Heat on December 8, a day after scoring 41 points against the Charlotte Hornets.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, is hoping to improve their struggling defense after recent poor performances. Following a stretch where they won three straight and four of five in late November, the Nets are 1-5 in their past six games, allowing an average of 115.7 points.
The Nets have allowed opponents to shoot at least 50 percent in four of their past seven games and ten times overall. Their latest defensive lapse was in a 135-119 loss at Memphis on Friday, after allowing a season-worst 57.4 percent from the floor in a 118-113 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on December 8.
Brooklyn is still awaiting the return of Cam Thomas from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for seven games. When Thomas, the team’s leading scorer, returns, he will not join Dennis Schroder in the starting backcourt.
Schroder, who was Brooklyn’s third-leading scorer at 18.4 points per game, was traded to the Golden State Warriors for three second-round picks, De’Anthony Melton’s expiring contract, and two-way guard Reece Beekman. Melton suffered an ACL tear last month and has undergone season-ending surgery.
