標籤: Cavaliers

It seems Danhausen’s Cleveland Cavaliers bashing before the Eastern Conference Finals was no fluke for television.

The Cavaliers were on the wrong side of history Tuesday night. They entered their Eastern Conference Finals series against the New York Knicks as huge underdogs on the road. However, they surprised many by taking a two-point lead at halftime, then increasing it to 22 with just eight minutes remaining in the game. Then Jalen Brunson and his teammates caught fire.

The All-Stars led a spectacular rally, with both teams tied at the end of regulation time. The Knicks superstar and his teammates kept it going in overtime and somehow pulled off an incredible Game 1 victory despite a huge deficit in the fourth quarter.

Cavaliers fans were heartbroken by the shocking loss and were trying to figure out how their team blew such a huge lead late. However, many NBA fans pointed to one person: WWE star Danhausen. The “Too Good, Too Bad” star actually cursed out Cleveland during an appearance on Tuesday nba today.

“I have a special mission I’ve been sent on, and that’s for the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. Tell them they’re damned,” he said.

The moment seemed quite random. However, in an ex post after the game, Danhausen revealed the real reason for doing so. When a fan asked, “Why would you curse the Cavs?” The WWE star responded, “Have you ever heard of this guy, The Miz?”

In that case, the Curse of Danhausen makes all the sense in the world. The Miz is a native of Cleveland and a fan of his hometown teams. And Danhausen currently has an ongoing rivalry with the WWE great and has cursed Miz and his tag partner Kit Wilson. He teamed with Mini-Hazen and scored a victory over the pair at Backlash earlier this month.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The New York Knicks are four wins away from the NBA Finals. But standing in their way are Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

If you’re planning to watch Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night, below you can find everything you need to know, along with the schedule for the upcoming NBA playoff series.

When will the Knicks play next?

What channel is the Knicks game on tonight?

The entire Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Cavaliers will air exclusively on ESPN and the ESPN app.

What time does the Knicks game start tonight?

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals begins at 8:00 PM ET.

Knicks vs Game 1 Betting Odds

The Knicks are -265 favorites in Game 1 of the East Finals. The Cavaliers are currently a +215 underdog.

NY Knicks Eastern Conference Finals Schedule 2026

Below you can find the upcoming schedule for the Eastern Conference Finals.

Can I watch Knicks games on Peacock or Amazon Prime?

No, Knicks games in the Eastern Conference Finals will not be available on Peacock or Amazon Prime. All seven games will be exclusive to ESPN and the ESPN app.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Who will win the Eastern Conference? The Cleveland Cavaliers punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night, taking on the comfortable New York Knicks. This will be a fascinating series, especially with all its focus being primarily on the West.

Let’s take a look at our game-by-game Eastern Conference Finals predictions.

Game 1: New York Knicks 121, Cleveland Cavaliers 113

It’s fitting that the Eastern Conference Finals features a matchup between the Cavaliers vs. the Knicks, as they faced each other to open the season on October 22nd. New York won two of the three head-to-head clashes during the regular season and we suspect the rest will play out in the team’s favor in Game 1. We think All-Star guard Jalen Brunson opened the ECF with a bang, scoring over 30 points with five three-pointers and combining with. Karl-Anthony Towns for 50. The Knicks won Game 1 in a two-man show.

RELATED: The latest on the Cavaliers’ plans with James Harden

Game 2: New York Knicks 115, Cleveland Cavaliers 108

New York knows at this point that Mikal Bridges is not going to provide much offensively. That’s fine in the Eastern Conference Finals; He just needs to be a blocker. Bridges did an excellent job of stopping Tyrese Maxey in the second period, and he will be tasked with another big defensive task here. We’re guessing the clamps will come out in Game 2, with both James Harden and Donovan Mitchell struggling when they are forced to match up with Bridges. Cleveland’s pair of All-Star guards battled the team’s issues on the glass, giving New York a 2-0 series lead with a clean record at home.

Read More: Western Conference Finals Predictions

Game 3: Cleveland Cavaliers 118, New York Knicks 110

The Knicks being well-rested certainly gives them an edge in the Eastern Conference Finals, but Cleveland has been battle-tested. Cleveland went 0–2 in the second round after losing on the road at Detroit and responded with three consecutive wins. We believe experience matters to win Game 3. It’s going to be a remarkable night for James Harden, who brings in over 30 points with 9 assists. The former NBA MVP responded with another vintage playoff performance in the series, which explains why the Cavaliers acquired him early this season.

Game 4: New York Knicks 121, Cleveland Cavaliers 117

With OG Anunoby injured, the Knicks have needed guard Miles McBride to step up more recently. He had a great performance in Game 4 vs. Philadelphia by making seven treys with 25 points and we think his perimeter shooting will shine once again in the Eastern Conference Finals. With Anunoby limited, McBride exploded with a game-high in three-pointers (five) made as part of the Knicks’ bench that made the difference in a Game 4 win on the road. This sent New York back to Madison Square Garden with a 3–1 series lead.

Game 5: New York Knicks 118, Cleveland Cavaliers 107

During the Eastern Conference Finals, we’re expecting Karl-Anthony Towns to be the biggest reason New York gets to the NBA Finals. Back home at Madison Square Garden, KAT would record his fourth double-double of the series and reach over 20 points for the second time since he has scored over 15 points in each contest. KAT and Brunson combined for over 40 points in a Game 5 loss to the Knicks’ rotation depth and team defense that gave the Knicks their first Eastern Conference title since 1999.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a gamble with the James Harden trade during the season, hoping it would propel them into the NBA playoffs. Heading into the elimination game, Harden’s future in Cleveland seems predetermined.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported this weekend that even if they bow out in Game 7 on Sunday, “there is an understanding” that the Cavaliers will work out a new contract with Harden.

Cleveland is reportedly already “happy” with the replacement of Darius Garland in favor of Harden. The former NBA MVP provides Cleveland with the lead guard they’ve been looking to pair with Donovan Mitchell, and he’s seen enough of that to commit to him long-term.

Harden has a $42.317 million player option for the 2026–27 season, which he is expected to decline. However, while he may explore his options in NBA free agency, the Cavaliers’ situation appears to be the best fit for him.

For now, it seems like there is an unwritten agreement between both sides that Harden will be taken care of this summer. He is set to get a multi-year extension that will likely include a player option, potentially also allowing him to hit the open market again next summer.

So, no matter what happens in Game 7 on Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons, the Cavaliers are ready to move forward with the guard tandem of Harden and Mitchell. It’s less clear whether both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will be part of the organization’s plans if they are waived again before the Eastern Conference Finals.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Following their disappointing loss in Game 5, an NBA expert explains why the Detroit Pistons are upset, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will head to the Eastern Conference Finals after Friday night.

Pistone did not want to be in this situation again. In the quarterfinals of this year’s playoffs, the former No. 1 seed suffered a 3–1 loss in their series with the Orlando Magic. However, this mostly young team showed its mettle by battling back and defeating Orlando in a do-or-die Game 7 last week.

They then started their semi-final series against the Cavaliers with a decisive win. It seemed like the team that was so dominant during the regular season was back and performing better. However, over the past week, the wheels on the bus have worn off, and Detroit now finds itself on the verge of elimination after blowing a nine-point lead in the final minutes of Game 5.

It was one of the worst losses to the franchise in decades and may be looked upon with regret for years to come. Still, there’s reason to believe that after such a crushing loss the Pistons can circle the wagons again and force a Game 7 on Sunday. However, on Thursday morning, The Athletic NBA expert Zach Harper explained why Detroit fans should be very concerned.

Cade Cunningham has been good, but not great, against the Cavaliers

Detroit’s loss on Wednesday wasn’t just about a bad night or a bad few minutes. It was about the issues that have been going on for the last few weeks. Cade Cunningham had 39 points, nine assists and six threes in Game 5. Numbers that should lead to victory. But Harper pointed to a bigger problem with the Pistons’ top star at the moment.

“[Cunningham] Harper wrote, “There were six more turnovers, bringing their turnover total to 69 in 12 games.” He also noted Cunningham “fell asleep” late in overtime and allowed James Harden to get his rebound off a missed free throw. A mistake that couldn’t happen at such a crucial moment.

Then Jalen Duren continues to disappear. A player who had a big breakout season in 2025-26 has been a huge disappointment in the playoffs. In 12 games, he is shooting 50% from the field, down from 65% during the season, and scoring half as many points a night as he did in the regular season.

Yet, in Game 5, things reached a new low point as he played only a few minutes in the fourth quarter and was benched for the entire overtime. Duren is the reason the Pistons had a great regular season, and he’s the reason they’re likely to be out in Game 6 on Friday night.

Detroit Pistons didn’t get the best version of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5

What makes things seem more ominous as the series returns to Cleveland is that the Cavaliers didn’t get great nights from their top stars on Wednesday. While Harden had 30 points, 8 boards and 6 assists, he shot 8-21 from the field and committed six turnovers. Donovan Mitchell had 21 points on 18 shots.

If not for Evan Mobley’s 19 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, the Pistons would have won Game 5.

Detroit can certainly win on Friday night, but there are ample indications that Cleveland will go 7-0 at home in these playoffs and advance to the Conference Finals in Game 6.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new rumor reveals how much it would cost the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, and the front office should make it happen.

After blowing a 2-0 lead and surviving the seven-game series against the Toronto Raptors, the Cavaliers will look to pick up a road win in Game 2 of their series against the Detroit Pistons tonight. Their performance against the Raptors and their 111–101 Game 1 loss has NBA analysts not confident that the Cavs will upset the No. 1 seed Pistons in this series.

That’s why there’s already speculation about what the Cavaliers will do this summer. While James Harden is enjoying his time in Cleveland, many expect him to opt out of the final year of his deal to receive a new multi-year contract from the Cavs or the highest bidder. There are also rumors that if Donovan Mitchell does not sign an extension this offseason, the team could consider trading him with one year left on his deal.

Even if Mitchell returns, this is an expensive roster that has never gone beyond the second round of the playoffs. If they don’t upset Detroit, change is coming, and it could be in the form of a trade for Milwaukee Bucks veteran Giannis Antetokounmpo. But does Cleveland have the trade chips to make a deal? It appears that they do.

Cleveland Cavaliers trade cost for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Marc Stein reports, “The Cavaliers contacted the Bucks about Giannis before the deadline and were told it would take Evan Mobley and all of Cleveland’s available draft capital to make it happen.” “It’s a business creation that Mobley’s leaders would probably scoff at, but it’s a move that no shortage of rival executives I’ve discussed it with have said they would do.”

Giving up future draft picks (perhaps more than five) for an aging great who is having trouble staying healthy is a huge risk. However, in an era where you can’t trade first-round picks in consecutive seasons and upcoming NBA lottery rules improvements, it could be worse.

If the Cavaliers hold on to Mitchell, this is now a must-win team. A healthy Antetokounmpo could easily become the winning star they seem to be lacking. The Cavs could also go away for a season, and if that doesn’t work, let both Mitchell and Antetokounmpo walk in free agency and start from scratch. Either way, they should seriously consider that trade if it’s still on the negotiating table this summer.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The second round of the NBA Playoffs ended on Monday night, with the New York Knicks earning an emphatic win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

This takes us to the NBA games today, with a Game 1 matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder. With two great bouts on deck, we’re making some predictions for each contest.

Donovan Mitchell downed 30-burgers

The Pistons will bring a level of physicality that could result in some game-to-game inconsistency for Donovan Mitchell. However, they do not have a standout defender like Scotty Barnes who can really cause problems for them. Mitchell averaged nearly 21 shots per game in the first-round series and we should see a similar amount in Game 1. We are projecting him to score over 32 points tonight, he will be the only Cavaliers player to score 20 points.

Detroit Pistons beat Cavaliers in Game 1

While Mitchell will do his best to help the Cleveland Cavaliers get a Game 1 win on the road, it’s going to be a one-man operation. Both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will struggle with the physicality provided in Detroit’s frontcourt with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. We also see that James Harden had an outing in which he turned it over 7 times while making only four shots. It would be relatively close in the fourth quarter, but Detroit won it.

• Prediction: Detroit Pistons 116, Cleveland Cavaliers 108

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reaches 50 points

We think there’s a chance we’ll see a 50-point game tonight. The Los Angeles Lakers have no answer for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensively. As highlighted by The Athletic’s Law Murray, SGA scored 83 points and shot 55.2 percent from the field against Los Angeles in the regular season. He’s willing to take more than 20 shots if necessary and it’s almost a lock that he’ll get to the free-throw line more than 10 times. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on national television, SGA scored more than 48 points.

OKC Thunder blow out LA Lakers in Game 1

With Luka Doncic out, it looks like this is the only one-sided matchup in the NBA Conference Semifinals. The Lakers are relying heavily on Austin Reaves, who is recovering from injury, and 41-year-old LeBron James to carry this team forward. It worked against Houston, but is not going to have any success against a Thunder team that is deeper, better coached and more well-developed. Playing at home in Game 1, Oklahoma City would effectively win. When it’s over, the only question will be whether the Thunder will have to deal with rust in the next round since it will be a short series.

• Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 122, Los Angeles Lakers 95

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Toronto Raptors picked up an impressive and convincing win in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The home team led 47–23 in the second half and won 126–104. They are now trailing 2-1 in the series.

However, the team received some bad news on the injury front on Friday, as they learned they will be without point guard Immanuel Quickley for the remainder of the series, no matter how long it takes.

Quickley has apparently suffered a setback in his rehab with a right hamstring injury and will remain on the sidelines indefinitely.

The 26-year-old player averaged 16.4 points per game in 70 contests this season. He had a career-high 5.9 assists, while also adding 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 37.4% from three-point range.

Quickley will miss the entire first round series

The speedy guard’s presence was missed in the first two matches of the series. In Game 3, however, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett exploded for 33 points apiece, while rookie Collin Murray-Boyles came off the bench with 22 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes.

Backup point Jamal Sheed will continue to see starter’s minutes in Quickley’s absence. After playing an average of 22 minutes per night during the regular season, Shead has played 32 minutes per contest in the first three games of the series.

Additionally, players like Ja’Kobe Walter (27.2 mpg) and Jamison Battle will see an increase in usage. After playing only three minutes total in the first two games, Battle broke out in Game 3 by finishing four three-pointers in clutch minutes to help ice the game for the Raptors. They will need both of them to continue to pick up the slack for Quickley, especially shooting from beyond the arc. Sheed has hit 6 of 12 three-pointers in the series, while Battle is now 4 of 5.

The only way Quickley gets a chance to play again this season is if the Raptors pull off a massive upset of the Cavs and advance to the second round.

First of all, things are looking absolutely bleak for the Chicago Bulls when they play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. Even though Josh Giddy was tallying historic assist totals, the Bulls found themselves trailing by 29 points.

However, Chicago made a remarkable performance in the fourth quarter. At one point they went on a 20-4 run, bringing them within one point. But some critical mistakes by James Harden and Evan Mobley robbed Chicago of its chance for the greatest comeback in history.

The result was that they had to face defeat 105-100.

There’s no doubt that Billy Donovan is thinking about the future of the franchise. That sentiment was expressed in how he viewed the game afterward. Of all the measures, they need to work on their mindset to overcome the difficulty.

“My issue is with him for tonight,” Donovan said. “They really care; they really want to do well individually and collectively, but we get frustrated a lot, and we have to be more tough when things aren’t going our way.

Despite missed opportunities, a select few put in notable performances in Chicago. Josh Giddy surpassed his personal best in assists (17) with 19 assists and scored nine points. Meanwhile, Leonard Miller came off the bench and added 10 points in the fourth quarter, and shot 4 of 9 from the field.

Also, Guerschon Yabusele scored 10 points of his own in the fourth quarter, including hitting two 3-pointers to close the gap in the waning minutes. Additionally, Nick Richard finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.

Trey Jones led the way with 20 points with four rebounds. Rob Dillingham scored 17 points and grabbed four boards. Chicago is now 28-42 and has lost 7 of its last 10 games.

Desmond Benn proved on Wednesday why he’s worth a trade to the Memphis Grizzlies. The new Orlando Magic sharpshooter stifled James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers from deep threes, ending a rally in the process.

Bane executed this clutch catch-and-shoot dagger that ended the Cavs’ late run. He threw the ball over Keon Ellis to put Orlando ahead by five before securing the 128–122 win.

Desmond Bain in clutch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Pyv9efi8Cs

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 12 March 2026

Even more adventurous was Ben’s Basket time. Cleveland could not challenge the Magic’s poor passing, which Harden even tried to dispute. Harden is also heard talking to the referee to explain his case.

“on my life!”

James Harden to the referee😭😭 pic.twitter.com/GwDaWc4c25

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) 12 March 2026

Still, Ben showed the magic that made him worth a deal.

Desmond Bain looking at the Magic trade that led to Wednesday’s moment

Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were part of the blockbuster summer deal. But there were more than just giants there.

Four unprotected first round picks came with the Bain deal. Orlando still landed one of the league’s top perimeter shooters, which kept the Magic out of last season’s playoffs.

The 27-year-old is proving his shooting ability, averaging 20.4 points per game, including shooting 38.7% from long range. He especially lit up Cleveland for 35 points on 12 of 19 field goal shooting.

Bane has now added his 12th 30-point game of the season in his arrival to Orlando. His current best is 37 which he dropped over the Chicago Bulls (in a 125–120 win on December 1) and the Detroit Pistons (in a 112–109 road win on November 28).

Ben’s shooting has ignited a five-game winning streak for a Magic team seeking a return to the postseason. And maybe the Cavs-Magic will be the No. 4 and No. 5 pairing in the Eastern Conference.

It’s pretty safe to say that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ acquisition of Lonzo Ball did not go according to plan. Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bulls for Isaac Okoro, Ball struggled mightily in his half season with the Cavs. He eventually became a cap casualty, with the Cavs deciding to trade his salary to the Utah Jazz, who waived him and sent him to free agency.

Ball did not produce well in a Cavs uniform; In 35 games, he averaged only 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists, while shooting 30.1 percent from the field and 27.2 percent from deep. It got to the point where Ball’s father, LaVar, felt like he had to step in and tell the Cavs how to better utilize his son.

“You’re already messing him up by not starting him,” LaVar said in an appearance on the Ball in the Family podcast. “You saw him come off the bench and run to the corner. He’s never played like that in his life and he’s going to have to adapt after not playing basketball for so many years. It’s not going to work.”

“I told them that when I got there and I said, ‘If you only want him to play 20 minutes, how about we let him play 24 minutes, but let him play the last two quarters?'”

LaVar Ball will always support his son despite tough end to Cavs tenure

What doesn’t make sense in LaVar’s plan to utilize Lonzo is that the Cavs were very wary of overloading his body. Ball has been well aware of the knee problems that have cost him years of his career, so it doesn’t make sense for Cleveland to give him such a heavy workload.

As of now, Ball remains a free agent, and there is not much buzz surrounding his name. It doesn’t seem likely he’ll be lining up with a team before the 2025-26 season ends, which is testament to how his stock has fallen during his time with the Cavs.

Philadelphia 76ers fans may be having flashbacks of a brutal end to the 2024-25 season, as injuries have ravaged their roster, leaving them extremely vulnerable against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night. Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, and Paul George all sat out, and as expected, they were defeated by the Cavs, 115–101, in a game that was not as close as the final score line would indicate.

What makes matters worse is that the ghost of a transaction that could haunt the 76ers franchise for some time is making its presence felt. Earlier in the night, the 76ers jumbotron showed the team’s almost unrecognizable starting lineup against the Cavs, with Cameron Payne starting at point guard amid the team’s injury problems. The problem, however, is that they put Payne’s photo on the graphic instead of showing it a picture of Jared McCain has been replaced in his place.

Yes – the same McCain the 76ers traded for with the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline last month.

Via Q Carlin of Sixers Wire:

I look at the jumbotron as the intro starts and…that’s not Cam Payne #sixers pic.twitter.com/m8QOtpzFlg

– Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) 9 March 2026

The 76ers could use Jared McCain right now

The 76ers believed they had enough safety depth to the extent that they were comfortable trading McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for some draft picks.

However, in today’s NBA where injury problems are a daily occurrence, the 76ers could have maintained that depth at least until the end of the season. Instead, the 76ers decided to avoid the tax, trade some picks for McCain, and sacrifice a valuable young member of their core in the process.

Amidst the 76ers’ injuries, someone like McCann could step up and take on leadership responsibilities just as he did when he flourished during his rookie campaign. But now, with the Thunder benefiting from McCann’s excellent outside shooting, Philly has nothing but what they had, but no longer have.

Winds in the Eastern Conference may begin to blow in a different direction. Throughout the season, the Detroit Pistons have reigned supreme in the Eastern Conference. But the Boston Celtics are going after them with speed and force. On Sunday, the Celtics defeated another former contender, the Cleveland Cavaliers, 109–98 to move to 43–21 on the season and fall just 2.5 games behind the Pistons in the standings.

The Celtics may be peaking at the right time, and what makes this season so outstanding for everyone involved in the franchise is that they managed to hold down the fort and excel despite an injury to Jayson Tatum. Now that Tatum is back, the Celtics may be the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference.

But as much fanfare as Tatum and Jaylen Brown attract for their continued excellence, the Celtics won’t go anywhere without the beating heart of Derrick White, who received such high praise Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson after his altercation on Sunday.

“[He’s] Top-five player in the league,” Atkinson said of White, via the Celtics on CLNS on X. “That’s how we treat him. He really disrupts you defensively, he’s an elite rim protector. Possibly the best guard rim protector in the league. So just take all those things and put it out there and with the shooting, you’ve got a great player.

Kenny Atkinson explains why he thinks Derrick White is a top 5 player in the NBA:

“Maybe what people aren’t measuring is his defensive impact… Analytically I think it’s probably proven in different places that he’s that player and that’s how we treat him.”

“He really hinders… https://t.co/uKwr1QwmVt pic.twitter.com/GDXsc5dXvr

-Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) 8 March 2026

The Celtics’ Derrick White is a coach’s dream

Many fans were stunned when White was getting just a few more minutes than Tatum for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. But it made sense. He can fit into every lineup. He can defend multiple positions, and he enjoys doing the dirty work. And besides, he’s one of the best volume three-point shooters in the NBA.

“What people probably aren’t measuring is his defensive impact… Analytically I think it’s probably proven in different places that he’s that player and that’s how we treat him,” Atkinson said.