Atkinson Calls Out Cavs' Conditioning in New Video After James Harden, Mitchell, Cavs Beat Nets

Two games into the regular season, Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson feels his team is still shaking out the cobwebs a bit physically.

The Cavs held on to beat the Brooklyn Nets 125-121 after having allowed 41 points in the fourth quarter. Following the game, Atkinson told reporters Cleveland isn't "in elite condition right now, which is kind of normal" (35-second mark).

"Second game, getting your rhythm. We're not there," he said. "I told the guys in the timeout we gotta fight through the fatigue. I thought we had moments of fatigue, but I felt like when I put that last group in to come back, they were sitting for a while. We just weren't locked in or focused."

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The Cavaliers were up by 11 points with a little over a minute remaining. A long-range jumper from Michael Porter Jr. made it a two-point game with 8.1 seconds remaining, but Cavs guard Sam Merrill spared them what would've been a second straight collapse.

Atkinson's squad led the Philadelphia 76ers by as many as 29 points in its opener Thursday night before wilting in the second half. The Sixers prevailed 114-106.

The coach spoke matter-of-factly in Saturday's press conference rather than in a tone that challenged his players. Game 2 of an 82-game season isn't the time to begin panicking.

But Atkinson's remarks are likely to raise some eyebrows given Cleveland is mostly running it back with a veteran-laden core. The manner of the Cavs' 2026 playoff exit would've seemingly reinforced the need to remain engaged for four quarters as well.

Players often train and practice with the idea of being at their best for the business end of the regular season and into the playoffs. Nobody expects the Cavaliers to be at their peak in late October.

Still, it's a little surprising that Atkinson would cite conditioning as a complicating factor already.