Kenny Atkinson's early usage of his challenge costs Cleveland Cavaliers in dramatic 112-110, Game 6 loss to Toronto Raptors. What's the team's philosophy?
Hindsight is always 20/20. Especially in the NBA Playoffs. That said, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson will continue to go with his gut when it comes to one key in-game decision: using his coach's challenge, even if it ends up coming back to bite him.
During Game 6 on Friday night, Atkinson opted to use his challenge early on in the second quarter, after an offensive foul call on Jaylon Tyson, who darted right toward the basket from the left wing and floating up a layup from just outside the key.
The play sent Raptors guard Jamal Shead stumbling backwards, covering his face. The officials ruled that Tyson had contacted Shead's face with his forearm on the shot attempt. Atkinson disagreed, challenged, and lost. losing the ability to challenge again in the process.
As the game dragged on, there were several other moments where having that in his back pocket probably would have come in handy. That includes in the closing seconds of overtime, where a critical inbound play went awry and cost Cleveland the game.
Leading by one and with 10 seconds left in the bonus period, Evan Mobley inbouded the ball to backcourt to veteran guard Dennis Schröder, who quickly found himself cutoff at mid-court by A.J. Lawson. Needing to advance the ball, Schröder threw a pass to Mobley frontcourt, near the sideline only for Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles to swipe it out of his hands and out of bounds.
It was ruled out on Mobley, and nine seconds later, R.J. Barrett hit a dagger three to even the series at three. After the game, Mobley pleaded that he didn't think the ball touched him last. Without a challenge, Atkinson had no way to prove it.
Postgame, the Cavs head man tried to explain the thinking behind blowing his challenge so early. The gist of it, points in the first half are the same as points in the second half.
"Our philosophy is points are equal," Atkinson said. "We've had this kind of discussion with a lot of people. You know, points matter everywhere in the game, right? What I don't like is holding the challenge and then never using it, right? When you could have gotten two points in the first half. So we're aggressive with it. It's our philosophy. I know everybody's different with it."
It's certainly not the first time Atkinson has lost the ability to challenge early on in a game. It's unlikely to be the last. But in a nip-and-tuck Game 6 and first-round series with the Raptors, every decision is critical.
Maybe the officials would have still ruled the ball went off Mobley in that closing sequence of the game. Still, it would have been helpful for Atkinson to at least have the option to find out.
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