The Cleveland Cavaliers aim to redominate at the Eastern Conference.
The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the 2024-25 NBA season as the first seed of the Eastern Conference, scoring a 64-18 record.
However, the Cavaliers were unable to bring that momentum into the postseason as they faced the exit for the second round of their second season.
Currently, ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson has a new plan for one star.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is undoubtedly one of the most skilled figures in the present day. After all, Kerr helped the Warriors win four NBA championships during his tenure.
While things like Stephen Curry and Clay Thompson played a key role in those title runs, Kerr believes the Warriors secret weapon is their role player.
“I’ve always talked to Steve Kerr about this. He always felt like their role player, like Sean Livingston. They were obviously really good players, but they had really high basketball IQs.”
The Reigning NBA Coach of the Year decided to take notes and curate the role of Lonzo Ball, one of the Cavaliers’ role players.
Following a troubled stint with the Chicago Bulls, Lonzoball was traded for the Cavaliers this summer.
Of course, Ball was no longer the star he was once, but the best part is that the Cavs don’t see the 27-year-old in that role.
“So, at the playoff level, I think you need toughness and all of that and talent, but you also need IQ wins in the playoffs,” Atkinson continued.
“At the end of the day, the player will lift you up, right? We will tweak some things, but at the end of the day he is the guy (the ball) who can help us to lift us to the next level,” he concluded.
Ball, an IQ player, could thrive in his sixth role under manager Atkinson. After all, Cavs already has a solid starting lineup.