The Cavs submitted three plays to the NBA after Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals because they believed the physicality by the Pacers went a step too far.

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson isn’t someone to complain about the officiating or even bring it up much. That changed on Tuesday evening before Game 2. He went out of his way to rant for six minutes about the officiating in Game 1 and the league in general when it comes to how physicality changes in the playoffs.

It only took Kenny Atkinson one season to make a splash in the Eastern Conference, and he was rewarded handsomely as the Cleveland Cavaliers frontman was named the NBA Coach of the Year, it was announced on Monday.