Cavs are embracing analytics and a new approach

The new coaching staff is trying to be ahead of the curve in their approach.

Kenny Atkinson’s training camp was different than what the Cleveland Cavaliers have been used to due to how they’re using analytics and a different approach to player development.

“Kenny and the staff, they’re very analytics-based,” Isaac Okoro said. “They really tell you why. ‘There’s a reason we want you doing this’ and they give you facts and studies behind it.”

“It reminds me of my time in Utah,” Donovan Mitchell said. “I’m not a big analytics guy as far as knowing about it, but I’m always intrigued about how we can find ways to get the most out of our groups.”

It’s easy to think of analytics as just meaning a team will shoot more threes and play at a quicker tempo although the Cavs want to do both. That is evidenced by how the staff wants Darius Garland taking eight or nine threes a game and there’s an emphasis on more off-ball movement. However, there’s more to analytics than that.

Analytics are just stats. It’s information that can show what does and doesn’t work at a macro and micro level. This includes looking at what issues certain lineups have or in what areas players have excelled in. Atkinson used Evan Mobley’s rebounding as an example of how he’s applied analytics so far.

“When Evan is on the court alone [without Jarrett Allen], the rebounding numbers aren’t great,” Atkinson said. “For me as a coach, I can use those numbers [and say], ‘You could really help us when we are in those spread lineups. We need you to rebound more.’”

Atkinson mentioned in his introductory press conference that he wants to “get ahead of the league” in certain areas. Using analytics more is a way to stay up with their competition, but not necessarily get ahead of it. Bringing in someone like Alex Sarama as Director of Player Development is an attempt to get ahead. Sarama is known for his constraints-led approach to player development.

“When you’re a coach in the NBA, you think all of the answers are in the NBA,” Atkinson said when asked about hiring Sarama. “There’s actually people doing a lot of great things outside the NBA. I’ve always been one that sought out what people are doing outside. [Sarama] was one of those. He’s part of a small circle that has a different way of thinking. And quite honestly, it matched with a lot of the ways that I thought about development.”

The basic premise of Sarama’s constraints-led approach is that there’s no one way to perform specific skills on the court. Each player has physical constraints and is going against defenses that create their own constraints in each game. Practicing with exaggerated, controlled constraints allows players to create solutions to these problems similar to how they would in competition. This rests on the belief that there’s no such thing as perfect technique. As such, doing things like practicing shooting with no defenders isn’t as beneficial since you aren’t replicating situations repeated in games.

In application, Sarama spent time after practice working with Luke Travers shooting with someone hitting the ball before he went up with the shot. This exaggerated move wasn’t specifically done so that Travers could complete a jumper in the rare instance someone hit the ball before he went up. It was done so that he would develop problem-solving skills that could be applied in any game setting.

This was also seen in the 3-on-3 scrimmages Sarama oversaw. Players were given ever-changing specific constraints on how they could play. For example, they needed to find ways to score while only using one side of the court or there would be varied shot clocks that the two teams would have to be constantly adjusting to.

These are two examples of the approach that breaks away from what has historically been done in the NBA. As of now, the Cavs are the only team doing this.

“When you have a different approach, especially in the NBA, the first [response] is like, ‘What is this? What are they doing?” Atkinson said. “It’s getting the buy-in from the staff first and then the players. But you got to have a conviction. You have to believe in it, right? And you got to sell your staff and your players on it. So we’re still in that process.”

Embracing analytics and a constraint-led approach are new and drastic changes for the Cavs based on where they were last season. We’ll see what difference both of these things make as the season progresses. Atkinson is still at the beginning of implementing these changes.

“I’m excited for Kenny to bring [a different approach] into our group and system,” Mitchell said. “At the end of the day, there’s so much more to learn about this game. I think it’s helping everybody figure out ways to improve individually and ultimately help the collective.”