Cavaliers’ Kenny Atkinson Rewatched Pacers Series ‘So Many Different Times Trying To Study’

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson rewatched the Indiana Pacers series “so many different times trying to study,” according to NBA reporter Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. 

The Cavaliers lost to the Pacers in the second round of the 2025 playoffs in five games, losing Games 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the best-of-seven series. 

“Kenny Atkinson was with the team in Las Vegas,” Fedor said. “He spent some time with Evan Mobley and DeAndre Hunter out in Los Angeles. He spent some time with Darius Garland going through the whole recovery plan with the doctors and stuff like that. He went out to see Sam Merrill. He went out to see Donovan Mitchell.

“He even told me he has rewatched the Indiana series so many different times trying to study that and learn from that.”

The Cavaliers were the No. 1 seed in the East last season. They swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs and appeared primed to compete for the championship for the first time in the second post-LeBron James era. 

However, the Pacers humbled the Cavaliers, who haven’t advanced past the conference semifinals since 2018, LeBron’s last season in Cleveland. 

The Cavaliers traded Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls for Lonzo Ball, re-signed Merrill and signed Larry Nance Jr. this offseason. Ty Jerome left Cleveland for the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has already been ruled out for next season. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum may not play either. Many people believe the East is the Cavaliers’ to lose in 2025-26. 

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