With the Cleveland Cavaliers preparing for the NBA Playoffs as the team is locked in as a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference, there could be some added pressure for head coach Kenny Atkinson to win in the postseason. As the Cavaliers now feature James Harden after trading for him at the deadline to add to an already talented team, this insider speaks about the possibility of Atkinson being on the hot seat.

According to ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel, the expectations are high for Cleveland and their postseason hopes, where if they “come up short,” the discussion of Atkinson not being the right fit for the team “will be very loud.” Atkinson is in his second year with the Cavs as head coach, leading the team in his first season to the first seed and 65 wins, though losing to the Indiana Pacers in the semifinals of the playoffs.

“Those title-competing expectations were heightened by the organization’s trade deadline deal to swap Darius Garland for James Harden. Anything short of a long second-round series would be another disappointing result,” Siegel wrote.

“Despite not being on the hot seat like other coaches around the NBA, Atkinson is facing pressure to win in the playoffs,” Siegel continued.

Donovan Mitchell speaks on the Cavs’ playoff hopes 

There’s no denying how talented the Cavs are, especially how they feature star Donovan Mitchell, who spoke after Wednesday’s 122-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks, saying how they need to prove to themselves they are a title contender.

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“I think it really helps, now we’re fresh, now we’re finding ways,” Mitchell said, according to ClutchPoints’ Cleveland reporter Spencer Davies. “You have a lot of playoff experience in this locker room. It’s a mental thing. I’ve said this all year. Physically, on paper, you look at us like, ‘Man, Finals team,’ right? But that doesn’t mean anything. We’ve got to go out there and execute it.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen how Cleveland will perform in the postseason and if Atkinson’s job is at stake, as there are two games left, including Friday’s rematch with Atlanta.