Atkinson Blames 14-Game Grind for Cavs' 4-0 East Finals Loss to Knicks

2 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · May 26

Kenny Atkinson said Cleveland's failure to finish its first two series in Game 6 left the Cavaliers on a dense playoff schedule that hurt them in a 4-0 Eastern Conference Finals sweep by New York.
14 playoff games before the conference finals and no two-day break from April 29 through Monday's Game 4 contrasted sharply with the Knicks, who had played four fewer games and got eight days off before the series.
The coach stopped short of calling fatigue the sole reason for the loss, but Cleveland also blew a 22-point Game 1 lead, struggled to contain New York's offense and lost three of four games by double digits.
Donovan Mitchell averaged 27.3 points, but support was inconsistent, while James Harden shot 38.9% overall and 17.9% from 3 with 17 turnovers in the series.
The sweep leaves Cleveland heading into the offseason weighing missed closeout chances against Toronto and Detroit and reassessing whether its current core can contend for a title.

Will this lopsided series finally force the NBA to reform its intense playoff scheduling system?

Was fatigue the real reason for Cleveland's collapse, or a convenient excuse for deeper team flaws?

Should the Cavaliers risk their future on Mitchell and Harden or blow it all up this offseason?