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Bill Simmons Labels Cavs HC Kenny Atkinson a ‘passive observer’ after Conference Finals Loss vs. Knicks

Bill Simmons Labels Cavs HC Kenny Atkinson a ‘passive observer’ after Conference Finals Loss vs. Knicks

When the Cleveland Cavaliers blew a 22-point lead against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the questions about head coach Kenny Atkinson’s in-game management were inevitable.

Cleveland Cavaliers News / HITC / May 20
WWE superstar The Miz’s Cleveland Cavaliers prediction falls flat after Game 1 disaster

WWE superstar The Miz’s Cleveland Cavaliers prediction falls flat after Game 1 disaster

The Miz tried to laugh off Danhausen’s curse before Game 1, but the Cleveland Cavaliers made that confidence look dangerous by the end of the night. The WWE superstar and Cleveland native backed his team before the Eastern Conference Finals opener, only for the Cavaliers to suffer the kind of collapse that instantly made the curse story go viral.

Cleveland Cavaliers News / HITC / May 20
Donovan Mitchell moment exposed the Cavaliers’ weakness contenders cannot carry

Donovan Mitchell moment exposed the Cavaliers’ weakness contenders cannot carry

Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers had Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals under control at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Then the New York Knicks turned a Spike Lee moment into the image of a playoff collapse Cleveland cannot explain away.

James Harden News / The Spun / May 20
James Harden Is Making Wrong Type Of History This NBA Postseason

James Harden Is Making Wrong Type Of History This NBA Postseason

There's no question James Harden will eventually be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, but it's starting to feel like he'll never have a signature moment in the playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander News / Yardbarker Quizzes
The 'NBA MVPs' quiz

The 'NBA MVPs' quiz

How many players to win the NBA MVP Award can you name in seven minutes?

The 'NBA scoring champions' quiz
The 'Active 40-point playoff games' quiz
The 'Most 30-point games in one NBA postseason' quiz
Charles Barkley News / HITC / May 20
Charles Barkley sounds off on Cleveland Cavaliers’ ‘choke job’ vs. New York Knicks

Charles Barkley sounds off on Cleveland Cavaliers’ ‘choke job’ vs. New York Knicks

Charles Barkley did not soften his words after the Cleveland Cavaliers threw away Game 1 against the New York Knicks. Cleveland had control, the lead, and a chance to take an early advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the final stretch turned into exactly the kind of collapse Barkley hates watching.

NBA News / Yardbarker
The best homegrown player for every NBA franchise

The best homegrown player for every NBA franchise

As an NBA fan, it hits different when a team's best player is a guy the franchise nurtured from the very start. There's a greater attachment to stars who have been there since the start, who have bled the team's colors since the start of their careers.

Kenny Atkinson News / Cleveland Cavaliers on SI / May 20
Cavs Coach Kenny Atkinson Gives Bizarre Defense of Timeout Strategy in Game 1 Loss

Cavs Coach Kenny Atkinson Gives Bizarre Defense of Timeout Strategy in Game 1 Loss

The Cleveland Cavaliers completely collapsed in Game 1, blowing a 22-point lead against the New York Knicks. The Cavs had four timeouts remaining with five minutes in regulation.

Donovan Mitchell News / Hoops Wire / May 20
Donovan Mitchell admits Cavs ‘blew it’ vs. Knicks

Donovan Mitchell admits Cavs ‘blew it’ vs. Knicks

The Cavaliers aren’t pretending Tuesday night was anything other than a disaster. Not after blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in a 115-104 overtime loss to the Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

James Harden News / Larry Brown Sports / May 20
Video shows how pathetic James Harden’s defense was in Game 1 collapse

Video shows how pathetic James Harden’s defense was in Game 1 collapse

James Harden’s defense got picked apart by Jalen Brunson late in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Fans did the same on social media shortly after The Cleveland Cavaliers star, long known to be a poor defender, was especially putrid down the stretch in the series opener against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, N.Y.

Evan Mobley News / NBA on ClutchPoints / May 20
Evan Mobley identifies shift that doomed Cavs in Game 1 vs. Knicks

Evan Mobley identifies shift that doomed Cavs in Game 1 vs. Knicks

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be kicking themselves coming out of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night. Cleveland had all but cemented a road win and stolen home-court advantage from the New York Knicks, as it had a 22-point lead with just under eight minutes to go at Madison Square Garden.

Dan Gilbert News / NBA on ClutchPoints / May 20
Dan Gilbert keeps it real about Cavs’ ECF Game 1 collapse

Dan Gilbert keeps it real about Cavs’ ECF Game 1 collapse

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert rued their monumental meltdown in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

NBA News / Yardbarker
The most unlikely 50-point games in NBA history

The most unlikely 50-point games in NBA history

If an NBA player ends a game with 30 points, that's generally a great night. 40 points is fantastic, and 50 points is an event. That's especially true when that type of scoring outburst comes from an unexpected source.

Cleveland Cavaliers News / Hoops Wire / May 20
Cavs didn’t just lose Game 1. They completely unraveled

Cavs didn’t just lose Game 1. They completely unraveled

The Cavaliers have faced adversity all postseason. They’ve responded to ugly losses. They’ve survived Game 7s. They’ve clawed back from holes. They’ve shown toughness.

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The 'NBA steals-per-game leaders' quiz
 The 'NBA steals-per-game leaders' quiz
The 'No. 2-scorers by NBA champion' quiz
 The 'No. 2-scorers by NBA champion' quiz
The 'PGA Championship host courses' quiz
 The 'PGA Championship host courses' quiz
The 'Most 40-point games in a season' quiz
 The 'Most 40-point games in a season' quiz
Cleveland Cavaliers News / Fadeaway World / May 20
Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley React After Cavaliers Blow Big Lead In Game 1 Loss vs. Knicks

Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley React After Cavaliers Blow Big Lead In Game 1 Loss vs. Knicks

Victory was within grasp for the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, and it would have seen them take a crucial 1-0 series lead against their toughest opponents yet: the New York Knicks.

Kenny Atkinson News / Larry Brown Sports / May 20
Kenny Atkinson gave the most bizarre comments after Cavaliers' choke job in Game 1

Kenny Atkinson gave the most bizarre comments after Cavaliers' choke job in Game 1

Kenny Atkinson sounded like a man who had accepted his losing fate on Tuesday after his Cleveland Cavaliers blew a late lead to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Cavaliers' 'hacking' strategy pays off in Game 1 loss — until it didn't
Unlucky bounce: Sam Merrill's missed three dooms Cavaliers in ECF Game 1 collapse against Knicks
The 'NBA Playoffs scoring leaders' quiz
NBA News / Hoops Wire / May 20
Everyone guilty in Cavs’ epic Game 1 collapse

Everyone guilty in Cavs’ epic Game 1 collapse

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ disastrous 115-104 Game 1 overtime road loss to the Knicks in the East finals Tuesday. 1. The Cavaliers have overcome a lot in these playoffs.

NBA News / Yardbarker / May 20
What did Donovan Mitchell tell Cavaliers after ECF Game 1 loss to Knicks?

What did Donovan Mitchell tell Cavaliers after ECF Game 1 loss to Knicks?

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell spoke candidly after the team crumbled in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. 

Ranking the remaining NBA playoff teams heading into the conference finals
Cavaliers-Knicks ECF preview: Five keys that will decide who advances to NBA Finals
The 'Most NBA Game 7 points' quiz
NBA News / Yardbarker / May 20
Knicks' epic ECF Game 1 comeback sets new franchise record

Knicks' epic ECF Game 1 comeback sets new franchise record

Adding more fodder to the belief that the Knicks are a team of destiny, New York won Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in historic fashion.

Unlucky bounce: Sam Merrill's missed three dooms Cavaliers in ECF Game 1 collapse against Knicks
Cavaliers' 'hacking' strategy pays off in Game 1 loss — until it didn't
Mike Breen had to cancel his ‘bang’ mid-call after Game 1 dagger rolls out
The '2025-26 points-leaders by NBA team' quiz
James Harden News / Fadeaway World / May 19
Cavaliers Player Ratings: Harden Drops A Stinker As Game 1 Ends In A Disaster

Cavaliers Player Ratings: Harden Drops A Stinker As Game 1 Ends In A Disaster

The Cleveland Cavaliers completely collapsed after building a massive lead, and their veterans were at the center of the disaster. Cleveland led by 22 points before the offense unraveled into careless turnovers and terrible late-game execution against the New York Knicks.

NBA News / Yardbarker / May 20
Cavs doomed by unlucky bounce in ECF Game 1 collapse vs. Knicks

Unlucky bounce: Sam Merrill's missed three dooms Cavaliers in ECF Game 1 collapse against Knicks

Talk about an unlucky miss for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill.  

Mike Breen had to cancel his 'bang' mid-call after Game 1 dagger rolls out
Cavaliers' 'hacking' strategy pays off in Game 1 loss — until it didn't
Knicks' epic ECF Game 1 comeback sets new franchise record
Kenny Atkinson gave the most bizarre comments after Cavaliers' choke job
Excited Magic Johnson compares Victor Wembanyama to Steph Curry
Spurs get encouraging update on De'Aaron Fox for Game 2
NBA News / Yardbarker / May 19
Cavaliers' 'hacking' strategy pays off in Game 1 loss — until it didn't

Cavaliers' 'hacking' strategy pays off in Game 1 loss — until it didn't

Leading by double digits in Game 1, the Cleveland Cavaliers made the counterintuitive decision to start sending the New York Knicks to the foul line. Not just any Knick — 40.8 percent free-throw shooter Mitchell Robinson.

Mike Brown was surprised to learn something new about Donovan Mitchell
Excited Magic Johnson compares Victor Wembanyama to Steph Curry
Victor Wembanyama's clutch three set up by Thunder flop
Spurs get encouraging update on De'Aaron Fox for Game 2
The '2025-26 points-leaders by NBA team' quiz
Donovan Mitchell News / Hoops Wire / May 19
Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell: Can’t be satisfied with advancing

Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell: Can’t be satisfied with advancing

Donovan Mitchell finally reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in his career, then made one thing crystal clear: this is only the beginning.

Cleveland Cavaliers News / Cleveland Cavaliers on SI / May 19
The Cavaliers Rotation Adjustments That Could Define the Series vs. Knicks

The Cavaliers Rotation Adjustments That Could Define the Series vs. Knicks

The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to get through their seven-game series against the Detroit Pistons. Game 7 was a 125-94 blowout in favor of the Cavaliers, who were dominant from the opening tip.

Cleveland Cavaliers News / Cleveland Cavaliers on SI / May 19
Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Knows How Important Jarrett Allen Is to Playoff Success

Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Knows How Important Jarrett Allen Is to Playoff Success

The Cleveland Cavaliers have finally returned to the Eastern Conference Finals after a 125–94 win in Game 7 over the Detroit Pistons.  In the win, Cleveland found its identity as an offensive juggernaut in a complete dismantling of the Pistons.

Sam Merrill News / Total Pro Sports / May 18
From Surviving a Brutal Attack in Nicaragua to Becoming Cleveland’s Game 7 Hero: Sam Merrill’s Incredible Journey

From Surviving a Brutal Attack in Nicaragua to Becoming Cleveland’s Game 7 Hero: Sam Merrill’s Incredible Journey

There was a time when Sam Merrill walked away from basketball. Long before becoming Cleveland’s unlikely Game 7 spark plug, Merrill spent two years in Nicaragua on a religious mission, far from NBA arenas and bright lights.

Donovan Mitchell News / Larry Brown Sports / May 18
Watch: Donovan Mitchell’s fiancee had a Game 7 scare

Watch: Donovan Mitchell’s fiancee had a Game 7 scare

Donovan Mitchell had an unexpected interaction with his fiancée, Coco Jones, during Sunday’s Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons.

Sam Merrill News / NBA Analysis Network / May 18
Sam Merrill’s 23 points gave Cleveland the spacing punch Detroit stopped controlling

Sam Merrill’s 23 points gave Cleveland the spacing punch Detroit stopped controlling

Sam Merrill’s 23 points were the most ever by a Cavaliers reserve in a playoff game, and they arrived in the exact spots Detroit had been trying to shut off all series.

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