The injury bug is here, and it’s hungrier than ever. Roughly 15% of the league was on tonight’s injury report, with everyone from stars to role players going down.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson shared
his explanation for why the NBA has been hit with this recent wave:
“We as coaches are asking a lot about it,” said Atkinson. “Intensity is raised, there’s no doubt about it, there’s been tactical shifts, pressure on defense is up a lot, the average distance of pick-up, no one’s talking about the offensive rebounding… when you go to the boards, there’s contact, so there’s an exertion there.
In this week alone, All-Stars such as Jalen Williams and Anthony Edwards have gone out with long-term injuries. Other standout names like Kawhi Leonard and Tyrese Haliburton are out with indefinite timelines. Some of these are freak injuries, while others seem emblematic of a larger trend across the NBA.
“Imagine bringing the ball up with no pressure, versus now you have a guy picking you up at the free throw line, and he turns you eight times; imagine the physical [toll], and then do that over time and multiply it,” said Atkinson.
Teams have become more aggressive than ever. The possession game is everything, and forcing turnovers begins in the backcourt. Attacking the offensive glass gets you another advantage. Going 110% on every play is the difference between winning and losing throughout 82 games.
“You have accelerations and decelerations, closeouts are longer, people shooting deeper,” said Atkinson. “So we’re aware of the physical toll, but it’s very complex because you got to keep up with the intensity of the other team… they’re going at you.”
It’s increasingly difficult to keep up in a league that is demanding an unsustainable pace. Atkinson believes the key is knowing when and where to apply pressure.
“It’s up to the coaches to figure out what is the right dose,” said Atkinson. “You can’t ask for everything; that’s my personal view.”
Reeling it in comes with a cost. The right opponent can run you off the floor if you aren’t ready to match their intensity. But in viewing this as a marathon instead of a sprint, the Cavs are at least taking advantage of the one thing they can control.
