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Cavs consult Guardians about big picture, dissect transition defense
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- Cavs consult Guardians about big picture, dissect transition defense
CLEVELAND — Seeking answers amid a brutal start to this Cavaliers season , coach Kenny Atkinson recently discussed weathering the proverbial storm with members of the Guardians organization .
The Guardians made the Major League Baseball playoffs as the American League Central Division champions last season after enduring a 10-game losing streak before the All-Star break and then dropping nine of 10 during another dismal stretch in August.
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Atkinson revealed he asked people with the Guardians on Dec. 19, "How'd you keep it together?"
The Cavs (15-14) will take all the help they can get right now because they are struggling mightily. They have lost three consecutive games and eight of their past 11.
During various points of the Cavs' 136-125 defeat against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 19, the home crowd filled Rocket Arena with the sound of booing. The latest letdown came on the heels of the Cavs falling at the Bulls (12-15) on Dec. 17 and to the Charlotte Hornets (9-18) on Dec. 14 in Cleveland.
"When you go through the dip, you've got to manage it," Atkinson said. "You've got to trust your group. I don't think there's ever a point where you're like, 'Forget it. This is a disaster.'"
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Cavs vs. Bulls: Cleveland Cavaliers falter again amid boos at home
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson watches the official for a foul call during the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 19, 2025, in Cleveland.
Poor health alone cannot account for all of the Cavs' troubles
Atkinson declined to name the Guardians bigwigs with whom he brainstormed, though he said he has exchanged text messages with manager Stephen Vogt. With a blazing hot September, the Guardians overcame a 15½-game deficit in the standings to swipe the AL Central crown away from the Detroit Tigers.
The Cavs entered this season with championship aspirations, but they have been playing like one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Of course, the Cavs have been ravaged by injuries, and All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell sat out with an illness on Dec. 19 against the Bulls. Even the officiating crew can't stay healthy during Cavs games. Tre Maddox suffered an ankle injury and left the game for good at the end of the first quarter, causing two officials to work instead of three.
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Despite the Cavs being severely banged up, point guard Darius Garland and center Jarrett Allen said Cleveland still possesses enough talent and depth to win. It seems to be the overwhelming sentiment of Cavs fans, too.
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) loses the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) on Dec. 19, 2025, in Cleveland.
Inadequate defense is 'killing' the Cavs, especially in transition
After all, the Cavs' issues go beyond health and some are especially alarming because they're tied to energy, intensity and competitive level. Why isn't this team playing with more hunger after failing to meet expectations and flopping out of the playoffs in May with a 4-1 series loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals? It's a question the Cavs haven't been able to shake.
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Perhaps the Guardians can offer valuable advice about defense because the Cavs need it. In all seriousness, the Cavs were outscored 20-7 in fast-break points during their most recent loss to the Bulls. Poor transition defense has plagued Cleveland.
"Fast break's killing us," said Garland, who scored a season-high 35 points.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson slaps hands with guard Darius Garland (10) as he comes off the court during the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 19, 2025, in Cleveland.
The Cavs rallied and tied the score 115-115 on one of Garland's six successful 3-pointers with six minutes left to play. However, they were outscored 21-10 the rest of the way.
"We couldn't get stops," Atkinson said. "At the end of the day, you score 125 points, that should be enough. So, to me, that was the deflating part of it.
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"This style of play has hurt us this year. The speed, drive teams hurt us in transition, hurt us with drives. That's something we've got to look at."
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The Cavs were run off the floor by the Pacers in the postseason this past spring. Atkinson mentioned Toronto and Atlanta as other teams capable of burning Cleveland in transition. Chicago certainly showed it can.
"It's kind of the style of the East right now," Atkinson said.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward-guard De'Andre Hunter (12) celebrates a steal and basket against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 19, 2025, in Cleveland.
Are the Cleveland Cavaliers properly positioned to play good transition defense?
The Cavs are known for sending at least three players into the paint for offensive rebounds. The strategy can help a team win the possession battle — a goal Atkinson emphasizes — yet transition defense can become more challenging as a result.
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Allen said it's a "very difficult" balance.
"Especially against a team like Chicago," added Allen, who posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. "They're a team that wants to get out every single time in transition. And if you're one step behind them, they're going to throw the ball down the court and get an easy layup. So, it's tough to try to balance it, especially when every time we've been learning to go to the offensive boards."
The counterargument? Atkinson said the Cavs proved last season they can crash the offensive glass the way he desires and consistently get back on defense. The reigning NBA Coach of the Year, Atkinson clearly views this as a problem with hustle more than scheme.
"We're losing too many of those sprint battles," Atkinson said.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball stands back during free throws by the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 19, 2025, in Cleveland.
Atkinson also explained he doesn't want to forsake an aggressive approach to offensive rebounding amid the Cavs' shooting woes. The Cavs are ranked 24th in the NBA in field-goal percentage (45.7) and 27th in 3-point percentage (33.9).
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Like with most areas of concern, Atkinson is banking on the transition defense improving as the team's collective health does.
"It takes experience, takes games to kind of feel this pace," he said. "We threw a few guys in there tonight that haven't been around that. So, I think as we get whole, I don't have a major concern that we can't slow teams down."
In the meantime, the search for answers will continue, and the Guardians may be consulted again.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com . On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs seek big-picture answers from MLB's Guardians amid struggles
