Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said his team still had “a lot more to prove” despite moving into the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in eight years.
The Cavs crushed the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game Seven last night to set up a clash with the New York Knicks, starting tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden.
Cleveland have lost in the second round of the playoffs the last two years and Atkinson, whilst pleased, says there is more to come.
“It does mean something,” he said. “This was the next step for us. First day of training camp, I put up the playoff record over the last three years, 11-15.
“I’ve been saying all year we have a lot to prove. We still have more to prove. That’s the next part of it, but we proved something to ourselves, that we could take that other step.”
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Mitchell stars for Cleveland
Donovan Mitchell bounced back nicely from a poor Game Six display with 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
“Even last year, when we lost to Indiana, we had our goals set on getting to the Finals. We’re just one step closer,” Mitchell said. “But yeah, it’s been almost a decade of running into the same issue. So for sure, I personally, and as a team, we can breathe a little bit.”
Cleveland have reached this stage the hard way with successive Game Seven wins after edging out the Toronto Raptors in the first round.
Sam Merrill added: “It’s a grind. We’ve played two extremely physical teams and to be able to continually get better throughout the series, I think, is a big step for us.
“Listen, you’d love to sweep every series, but I think these have been great opportunities for us to get to know each other a little better, develop some more belief and just continue to get better. And that’s what the playoffs are about. You got to keep getting better, make adjustments, and then find a way to win.”
That game sucked, admits Cunningham
It was a sad way for Detroit’s season to end after promising so much.
Their below-par display was typified by Cade Cunningham, who managed just 13 points and was 0-for-7 from three-point range.
“That game sucked,” Cunningham said. “Being back home, definitely wanted to get this win for the fans. It reminded me of last year, losing on the home court.
“It’s not a great feeling. I hadn’t been thinking about the offseason so my mind’s been racing now, trying to figure out what I’ve got to do and what it’s going to look like. That’s really it.”
Coach JB Bickerstaff attempted to remain upbeat and bristled at suggestions the season was a disappointment.
“It’s not a disappointment at all. And not ever will I be disappointed in these guys,” Bickerstaff said. “These guys, every single day gave us what they got. So, it is not a disappointment. It’s a loss and it’s a tough loss, but that adjective will never be used with this group.”
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