Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson trying to stay the course in midst of injuries, losses

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said he's currently "managing the dip." His struggling club has lost seven of their last 10 games, including two straight, heading into the Chicago Bulls game Friday at Rocket Arena. Cleveland has plummeted to 15-13 and was eighth in the Eastern Conference playoff race prior to the matchup against Chicago. Players have dropped with injuries all year, and two more took that route Friday, as leading scorer Donovan Mitchell and valuable reserve Craig Porter Jr. were sidelined with illnesses. "Don is under the weather," Atkinson said. "He came in sick (Thursday) and we sent him home. Today, he got worse." Cleveland was so short-handed, two-way forward Luke Travers was summoned from Orlando, Florida, where he was participating in the G League Showcase. "We flew him home," Atkinson said. "He is our 10th (player)." The coach said he must remain positive throughout the adversity. "My job as a coach is to stay positive," Atkinson said. "I'm thankful we have great leaders. This doesn't bother them. They keep me stable." He was asked how he remained even-keeled despite the recent losing. "I was concerned at 15-0 last year," Atkinson said. "It's part of professional sports. You have to trust your young guys. We are never to the point where we're, 'Forget it, this is a disaster.' It's not like this group has never won." Atkinson said he texted Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on Friday since they both shared some losing streaks last year. "I love interacting with them," he said. "We go through some of the same things. This is all part of the art of coaching. You have to feel the temperature of the team. I learned that from (Golden State Warriors coach) Steve Kerr." To get the Cavs out of their "dip," he said he believes they must go back to the basics. "When struggling, players want simplicity," Atkinson said. Bench-bound Atkinson has decided to use De'Andre Hunter as a reserve after the forward struggled in the starting lineup. Hunter had 12 points and five rebounds Wednesday in Cleveland's 127-111 loss to Chicago. "That was a good sign," the coach said. "We're putting him with the second unit. It seems like a better fit." Movin' on up Cavs swingman Jaylon Tyson finished with 21 points against Chicago, his third 20-point game of the season. He's scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, as well as 16 of his last 19. He's averaging a career-high 13.5 points per game and is sixth in the NBA in 3-point percentage (.466). "He's one of our elite workers," Atkinson said. "He lives at the (practice) facility." Coming into the season, the coach said he thought Tyson would be the Cavs' 11th man and outside of his rotation. Instead, he's been a solid starter. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.