Kenny Atkinson Explains Every Way Cavs Struggled in Loss, Knicks 'Were the Much Better Team'

The New York Knicks are now in full control of the Eastern Conference Finals with a 3-0 lead following Saturday's 121-108 win on the road in Game 3, and Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson admitted the visitors were simply the better team.

"I think the turnovers hurt us," he told reporters (13-minute mark). "[Landry] Shamet getting loose there, they had a role player step up on the road. But, whatever the stats say tonight, they were the much better team."

He also highlighted the difference in physicality between the two teams.

"I do think their physicality and energy level was much higher than ours," Atkinson said (11:30 mark). "… But credit to them, I thought their physicality really got us. They turned us over early, they were into the ball, very handsy. … We struggled to play through that physicality tonight."

Cleveland turned the ball over 17 times with a combined 11 coming from star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. It was the second time this series Harden and Mitchell combined for double-digit turnovers after also doing so in Game 1 as Cleveland blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter.

The defensive combination of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart on the wing and perimeter has been a problem for the Cavaliers' ball-handlers, and the series shifting back home for Saturday's contest did nothing to change that.

Shamet also provided a spark off the bench with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep.

Knicks-Cavaliers Highlights

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If a secondary contributor like Shamet is going to provide that type of production all while Jalen Brunson is continuing to dominate (30 points and six assists on 10-of-19 shooting), Cleveland is going to be facing an uphill battle every time it takes the court against the Knicks.

Perhaps facing a 3-0 hole and hearing the head coach lament the turnovers and lack of physicality and energy will lead to a more desperate Cleveland team for Monday's Game 4. 

Overcoming a 3-0 deficit is a daunting proposition, but winning the next one with a different approach would at least put more pressure on the Knicks to close things out in New York during Wednesday's Game 5.