Kenny Atkinson reshaped the Cavaliers into a high-powered regular-season machine, turning Cleveland from 16th in offense to the league’s best. Mobley blossomed into an All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year, while Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland clicked as a dual-threat backcourt. The bigs pairing yielded staggering 120.8 offensive ratings and a clear path to elite execution, but the playoffs exposed gaps—tempo management, depth, and crunch-time discipline remain the next frontier as Atkinson faces six months to sculpt playoff-ready answers.

The challenge isn’t just sustaining offensive firepower; it’s translating that success into postseason credibility. After a 64-win run, questions linger about countering top defenses, empowering role players in tight games, and keeping stars from good regular-season habits when stakes rise. The Cavs must balance continuity with tactical tweaks, and six months isn’t long in the crucible of playoff preparation.