Cavs’ Georges Niang provides perception into Kenny Atkinson’s new offense

There’s been hype surrounding head coach Kenny Atkinson‘s new offense in the course of the offseason and coaching camp. Below Atkinson, the Cavs are anticipated to make the most of a motion-based offense that desires to play with tempo and rise up three-pointers. There’s additionally an emphasis on shifting the ball and empowering his gamers to make the correct reads. The thought underneath Atkinson is to play with movement and tempo and create benefits that make the gamers on the ground efficient. This technique will empower gamers to develop and develop, honing abilities that would ultimately change into strengths. However for as a lot discuss as there was about it, it is exhausting to mentally visualize it with out viewing it. Fortunately, Cavs veteran ahead Georges Niang gave nice perception into how Cleveland will play underneath Atkinson.

“It is flying the ball off the courtroom with the cross,” mentioned Niang. “We now have two elite rim-running bigs. So, getting them simple layups and dunks by working the ground retains them motivated to run the ground.

“The ball goes to get to them to cross greater than you realize. We’re going to be dribbling the ball up the courtroom. So, I feel enjoying with tempo for us is advancing the ball with the cross, moving into the lane, after which beginning our cycle of drive and kicks.”

Cavs’ new offense on full show in first preseason recreation

Fortunately, Niang’s perception got here to fruition in Cleveland’s first preseason recreation towards the Chicago Bulls. Inside the first 5 minutes of motion, the Cavs roared out to a 19-7 lead. It was all predicated on tempo, house, and clever passing. All of it gelled collectively properly, choosing aside a haphazard Bulls protection and displaying early indicators of how Atkinson desires Cleveland to play.

Twenty-seven of the Cavs’ 47 made subject objectives got here off of assists. These 24 dimes led to 58 factors scored by Cleveland, greater than 64.1% of their whole factors. Seven resulted from the Cavs driving towards the bucket after which kicking again to the open shooter. The remaining 20 had been both off artful dimes to huge males Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who each took turns bullying the Bulls inside. Or they got here off of pull-up jumpers or makes an attempt inside the perimeter.

For reference, the Cavs assisted on 2299 of their made subject objectives final season. Certain, the 67.1.% help proportion is roughly the identical as what Cleveland had towards Chicago. Final season’s numbers got here within the common season. The Cavs may put collectively these numbers with their starters solely enjoying minutes into the second half and Atkinson going deep into his bench all through. Atkinson began to stretch issues out halfway into the third and entered the ultimate body. Regardless, Atkinson’s system stored looking for clear seems off of fixed motion, regardless of the place the try got here from on the ground.

Earlier than the sport, Atkinson mentioned he did not have a agency variety of three-point makes an attempt that he needed Cleveland to take. Nonetheless, he did joke that he will not discourage his gamers from firing away from the perimeter, no matter whether or not or not they had been contested. Almost half of the Cavs’ makes an attempt on this recreation got here from the perimeter. In the meantime, Cleveland noticed greater than half of their makes an attempt within the paint. The remaining 4.6% of their makes an attempt had been thought of inefficient by analytical requirements.

That is the idealized type of Atkinson’s offense. It is a heavy dose of analytics the place his group seems to get probably the most environment friendly shot each time attainable. Niang supplied a teaser of what to anticipate, and Cleveland greater than backed up their veteran ahead’s phrases towards Chicago. Once more, these numbers are a bit watered down. The Cavs misplaced Max Strus early and pulled their starters within the third quarter. So, issues might be much more refined as soon as the common season begins. It is an encouraging first step, even when Cleveland misplaced to Chicago.