The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-97 on Saturday, marking their first victory against Cleveland since sweeping the Eastern Conference Finals last season. This win caps a dominant stretch for New York, who have consistently outperformed their rivals in recent matchups. The result underscores the Knicks’ sustained superiority over the Cavs, a narrative that has persisted throughout the current season and the previous postseason.
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Following Game 3 of last year’s ECF series, Kenny Atkinson stated that “analytically,” Cleveland had won two of three games based on expected score metrics. Those comments went viral, particularly after the Cavs lost Game 4 by a lopsided 37-point margin (130-93). Atkinson recently provided context for the remark, acknowledging that the soundbite was taken out of context. “I think when you look back on it and take the context of the question, I’m not sure that was taken into account,” Atkinson said, noting that he was answering a specific inquiry about hope while trailing 3-0.
Atkinson emphasized that his primary message was an honest admission of the Knicks’ dominance. “I would just say there was no coach more complimentary of the Knicks and honest about our performance and how they dominated us,” he explained. The coach clarified that 99 percent of his comments focused on New York being the better team. This clarification serves as a lesson in media management for Atkinson, who admitted to “living and learning” from the viral moment while reaffirming his respect for the Knicks’ superior play.
Source: Bleacher Report
