RSS Cavs Team Notes

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

12 stats to explain Cavs 138-113 win over Wizards

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks against Jamir Watkins #5 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers ran over a bad Washington Wizards team 138-113 on Wednesday evening.

The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass.

Effective Field Goal Percentage	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	Offensive Turnover Percentage	Free Throw Rate
Cavs	63.9%, 91st percentile	44.7%, 96th percentile	19.4%, 12th percentile	38.6, 98th percentile
Wizards	47.1%, 14th percentile	37.5%, 86th percentile	14.4%, 51st percentile	14.4, 19th percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

• Sam Merrill scored a career-high 32 points. He was on fire from deep, going 9-10 from three. He also made both of his shots inside the arc. Merrill simply couldn’t miss, and there was nothing the Wizards could do to contain him.
• James Harden assisted on six of Merrill’s 11 field goals. He did a great job of finding Merrill whenever he could. We’ve seen how Harden can open up the game for guys like Jarrett Allen. Clearly, he can have that same kind of effect on an off-ball shooter like Merrill as well.
• The Cavs registered a 113.3 offensive rating in the half-court (88th percentile). This was the third game with Harden, and the third time the half-court offensive rating was over 109 — which is an elite number. This team has the skills to be absolutely lethal in the half-court, and they have been.
• Cleveland took 40% of their shots at the rim (86th percentile). Washington didn’t have the personnel inside to keep the Cavs from getting to the basket, and the Cavs took advantage. The restricted area is still, and always will be, the most efficient place to score from. There’s no reason to go away from your advantage once you create it.
• Jarrett Allen went 8-8 from the field to finish with 21 points. It seems like Allen has made every shot that he’s put up recently, which has led to his teammates calling him Wilt. In his last four games, Allen has gone 34-44 (77.3%) from the field. He’s playing some of the best basketball of his career right now.
• The Cavs are now 9-0 when Allen scores 20 or more points. Allen playing his best offensively has led to wins. Now, the question is figuring out how to get this version of Allen when Evan Mobley gets back into the equation.
• Harden took just four shot attempts in over 28 minutes. The last time he took four or fewer shots was in April 2024 during a game he played under 10 minutes. Harden isn’t too concerned about his lack of scoring. “I’m top 10 in scoring all-time. Scoring isn’t a problem for me.”
• The Cavs had their highest free-throw rate in a game this season. Harden is to thank for that with his 12 free throw attempts. This is an area he’s going to help immensely.
• Washington controlled the offensive glass, finishing with 28 second-chance points. Offensive rebounding has been an issue of late, and understandably so. Being without both Dean Wade and Mobley hurts in this department. Still, you’d like to see the Cavs do a better job on the glass. Fortunately for them, they gathered many of their misses as well and had 27 second-chance points of their own.
• The Cavs played at a 105.5 pace. Despite concerns that the offense would play slower with Harden, they’ve actually increased their pace. Over the past three games, Cleveland has been playing at a 102.3 pace. For context, their season-long average is 101.8. It’ll be interesting to monitor this as Harden continues to get implemented into Kenny Atkinson’s system.
• Donovan Mitchell has taken more shots since playing with Harden. He had 19 attempts on Wednesday and is averaging 22 in the three games he’s played with Harden. For reference, Mitchell is averaging 20.8 field-goal attempts per outing on the season. One of the concerns with adding Harden would be that he could take away some of Mitchell’s shots and keep him from doing what he does best. So far, that hasn’t been the case. He’s only made life easier for Mitchell.
• The Cavs have registered a 125.6 offensive rating with both Mitchell and Harden on the floor this season. Cleveland’s offense has been humming in the 54 minutes the duo has spent on the court together. This has led to a +10.9 net rating together.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...hington-wizards-james-harden-donovan-mitchell

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

11 Takeaways from James Harden’s home debut in Cavs win over Wizards

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk as they warm up prior to a game against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t play with their food. They quickly asserted control of Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards and led wire-to-wire before settling for a 138-113 victory.

Cavs fans embraced James Harden in his debut. Some of the loudest cheers of the night were reserved for his pregame introduction and anytime he did something on the court. The giveaway stick-beards helped add to the atmosphere as well.

“[There was a] different buzz tonight,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I felt it when I walked into the arena. This is a superstar league. … It’s great for Cleveland. It’s great for this market, these fans. They had LeBron over here for a long time. This is another, in that category of superstar, which is really cool for everybody.”

Harden also enjoyed his first home game in Cleveland.

“The crowd is always crazy,” Harden said about playing in front of the home fans for the first time as a Cavalier.

“I come here as a visitor, they’re crazy. They’re about the Cavs, and the land, and very loyal. They show up every single night. It’s one of the things that I was most excited about. So tonight was no different.”

Harden is here to win a championship. At this point in his career, competing for a title and being in a good financial position are what matter most.

“We all know why I’m here,” Harden said. “It’s one goal, and we all have that in common. So whether I score, take four shots, or take 20 shots. If we win the game, who cares?”

It’s difficult to draw too many conclusions from a game against an awful, tanking Wizards team, but the Cavs are considerably closer to that goal now than they were a little over a week ago.

Harden’s fit on the court remains seamless. Any team with Harden is naturally going to play more deliberately in the half-court. He plays at his own pace, but often to the benefit of his teammates.

This led to 11 assists while providing 13 points on just four shot attempts. Harden’s ability to put stuff on the table without taking anything off it is exactly what you want when you add a superstar to an already established contender.

Donovan Mitchell has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this. The playmaking burden isn’t on him anymore. This allows his focus to return to what he does best: scoring.

For the third game in a row, Mitchell reached the 30-point plateau with Harden on the floor. He’s also taking more shot attempts in games with Harden than he has compared to his season-long average. Right now, there isn’t any struggle with who should be the primary scorer.

As we’ve seen in the two previous games, Harden’s presence makes life considerably easier for Mitchell.

“He’s manipulating the game,” Mitchell said of Harden. “He’s being able to put guys in positions. And then for me, to just be who I am. Attack, get downhill, still create, still playmake, but still be myself.”

The biggest fear when adding another high-usage player is that it might take away from what the other does best. Even guys who turned out to be phenomenal teammates, like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade with the Miami Heat, needed nearly a year together to figure out how to coexist. Even more natural partnerships like James and Kyrie Irving’s needed time to develop.

This duo has been the exception to the general rule so far.

The gravity Harden creates just makes everyone better.

“There’s a play in Denver where he’s isoing and Sam is in the right wing, and he just throws it to him because everyone’s pulled over,” Mitchell said.

View Link

“Now if that’s me over there, like what do you do?” Mitchell asked. “[Harden’s gravity] gives me time to go sit in the corner and watch him operate, and then defenses have to respect me. Now, everything is open to everybody else.”

Mitchell has played with great teammates before, but nobody else demands as much attention as Harden. This is a completely new dynamic for Mitchell, and he’s taking advantage of it so far.

These two plays are examples of that. Mitchell is going to get easy baskets like this when the defense either has to consistently stay with Harden or has to come to him when he has the ball.

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Mitchell has also given Harden the space to do what he does best. Even though Harden only had four field-goal attempts against Washington, he was able to completely play his game, his way. He acted as the play initiator for most of the evening and had the second-highest usage on the team.

“Don is unselfish,” Harden said. “Even last game in Denver, the last couple minutes of the game, he just gave me the ball, let me facilitate, and do what I do. So, you don’t really get that from superstars in this league. And so that right there gave me the open welcome. … We both have the same freedom.”

There will undoubtedly be friction at some point, but so far, the fit couldn’t be better. Both have been able to play their game, and the team has benefited from that.

Finding the balance between Kenny Atkinson’s movement offense and Harden’s stagnant, isolation system is a work in progress. Atkinson has repeatedly insisted that he’s going to fit the attack around what Harden does best, but many of the Cavaliers are best used in a motion-based offense. Sam Merrill is one of those players.

Harden assisted on six of Merrill’s 11 field goals. Some of those were simply from Harden drawing two to the ball and hitting the wide-open Merrill. Others were from incorporating some movement offense around a stagnant Harden. The latter is what’s interesting.

The Cavs got clean looks for a moving Merrill twice with Harden posted up on the elbow. The first was for a three when Merrill came around an Allen screen. The second was from using a screen to dive back inside for a layup.

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Atkinson’s offense will need to evolve to fit around Harden, but there’s ways to do that without disrupting what Harden does best. These are examples of how you can try to create a hybrid of both.

Not the burry the lede, but Merrill put up a career-high 32 points. He was on fire and couldn’t miss for long stretches of the game. He finished 9-10 from three and 11-12 from the field overall.

There’s nothing opponents can do to stop Merrill when he gets it going like he did on Wednesday. And playing with an additional star in Harden, who requires the defense to keep track of, is going to give Merrill more room to operate.

Jarrett Allen continued his run of good play. He went 8-8 from the field en route to a 21-point performance.

The addition of Harden has made life easier for Allen. He’s getting many more clean looks per game because of it. However, this impressive run goes back to before the trade. Allen has leveled up his game since Evan Mobley’s injury.

Now, we come back to this question: How do you get this version of Allen when Mobley returns?

If the Cavs had an easy answer, we would’ve likely seen it years ago. But there is one thing that they can do better.

“From my perspective, we have to get him involved more,” Atkinson said. “[I’m] just thinking maybe [we] didn’t focus enough on how important it is for him to touch the ball, to be involved. We ran an ATO (after timeout play) for him. I think it was the first one of the year today, first play of the game. I got to do that more. That seems like the formula. And of course, we’ll separate him and Evan (their minutes), but he’s got to be more involved. Touch the ball more.

There’s also concerns about how Harden — who has traditionally played with optimal spacing — would adjust to playing with two bigs.

But no matter how that looks, one thing is clear: Allen needs to be more involved. This version of Allen is playing at an All-Star level and elevates the entire team. He’s too skilled to be relegated to the glorified role player he’s been for the majority of this season.

Let us know what your takeaways are from this game in the comments below.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...rds-james-harden-donovan-mitchell-sam-merrill

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Wizards – Sam Merrill leads the way

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after making a three-point basket during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the final game before the All-Star break, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the visiting Washington Wizards 138-113. Here are the winners and losers in James Harden’s home debut.

Winner – Sam Merrill, certified sniper​

The importance of Merrill to the Cavs has been well-documented, but he was unconscious in the first half, going 9-9 from the floor, including 7-7 from beyond the arc. Even the heat check at the end of the half was no match.

THE MOST FIRE HALF YOU COULD HAVE. @smerrill05 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/ZuZ1IeNxYC

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 12, 2026

Merrill was just one three-pointer shy of tying the Cavs record for threes in a half (C.J. Miles in 2014 and Kevin Love in 2016), but the swingman showed his versatility with a big block early in the third quarter as well. While he is normally acting as a connector on the offensive side, Merrill was downright lethal shooting the basketball. He had a tough and-one at the end of the first half, just for good measure, and ended up with a career-high 32 points.

The wavering health of Merrill has impacted the consistency of lineups that head coach Kenny Atkinson can put together, but there is no doubt of his impact when he is available. The Cavs are 7.5 points per 100 possessions better with Merrill on the floor than off per Cleaning the Glass. That’s the second-best mark on the team behind only Donovan Mitchell (+10.8).

Winner – Jarrett Allen’s toughness​

It is a rare sight to see Jarrett Allen get angry at a referee and get called for a technical foul, but he did tonight. And immediately followed it up with an absolutely smothering block that led to a Donovan Mitchell lay-in.

JA's block -> Don's basket. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/xUewJ0fpXi

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 12, 2026

Washington was without its usual big Alex Sarr (and of course, no Anthony Davis, either), so they operated without a center. It makes sense that Allen plays with an extra fire given his advantage over the Wizards’ bigs — or lack thereof. Like Merrill, Allen was perfect from the field and finished with 21 points.

Allen continues his excellent play following the five-game Western Conference swing, including a very good effort against Nikola Jokic on Monday night. Bear in mind, this good stretch comes with Evan Mobley still sidelined with a calf injury, though the reigning Defensive Player of the Year appears to be coming back very soon.

Winner – James Harden’s Rocket Arena debut​

Against the backdrop of Cavalier fans wearing fake beards on a stick, James Harden put on a dazzling – and seemingly effortless – performance. The veteran guard displayed his generational passing capabilities with some insane finds, including this full-flow behind-the-back dime to Jaylon Tyson.

This pass rocks, man. @JHarden13 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/YqtSs14NTv

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 12, 2026

Harden had nine assists in the first half and notched his second-straight double-double early in the third quarter, and it would have been easy to miss. The passing skills make everyone better, but it’ll prove especially valuable for Allen and Mobley.

He only attempted four shots from the field, but took 12 free throws to make up for it. That rim pressure is something the Cavs were lacking with Darius Garland, who inexplicably failed to get to the free-throw line despite having an excellent handle and great speed. Harden’s ability to generate and absorb contact is a valuable tool in the playoffs.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...ers-cavs-vs-wizards-sam-merrill-leads-the-way

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

How to watch the Cavaliers at NBA All-Star Weekend

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 17: Donovan Mitchell shoots the ball during the Starry 3 point contest as a part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers will have two representatives at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles with Donovan Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson. Mitchell will be participating in the 3-Point Contest and All-Star Game, while Tyson will be in the Rising Stars game.

The format of these events changes seemingly every season. Let’s get into what we can expect this go around.

Rising Stars​

When: Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 PM

TV: Peacock

The Rising Stars game will feature first and second-year NBA players and a handful of G League participants. The 21 NBA players have been broken up into three teams. The G League players are on a team of their own.

The four teams will participate in a mini-tournament of three overall games. There will be two semi-final games. The first team to 40 points in the semi-final games will advance, and the loser will be eliminated. The two winning teams will face off in the finals. The final game will be won by the first team to reach 25 points.

Tyson is on a team drafted by Tracy McGrady. His team is as follows:

• Tre Johnson
• Kon Knueppel
• Ajay Johnson
• Alex Sarr
• Cam Spencer
• Jaylon Tyson
• Kel’el Ware

3-Point Contest​

When: Saturday, Feb. 14 at 5 PM

TV: NBC and Peacock

The 3-Point Contest will be the first event of All-Star Saturday. This is a change from their normal order of activities. Considering this is the best event of All-Star Weekend, and it features Mitchell, it’s worth watching.

This will be the second time Mitchell has been in the 3-Point Contest as a Cavalier and the third time overall. In his most recent showing, he wore a number 5 Cavs’ jersey with “Money Merrill” on the back in honor of Sam Merrill. He said on Wednesday that he plans on doing that again this time around.

Here are the participants for the 3-Point Contest:

• Devin Booker
• Kon Knueppel
• Damian Lillard
• Tyrese Maxey
• Donovan Mitchell
• Jamal Murray
• Bobby Portis Jr.
• Norman Powell

NBA G League Next Up Game​

When: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2:30 PM

TV: NBA TV

The Charge will have two representatives at this year’s version of what is the G League All-Star Game with Killian Hayes and Norchad Omier

Hayes has had an incredible season so far. He’s averaging 23.5 points, 8.3 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on .467/.323/.795 shooting splits in 26 outings with the Charge.

Omier is a candidate to get the two-way spot that Nae’Qwan Tomlin recently vacated by signing a standard deal. Omier is averaging 18.5 points and 11.1 rebounds on .601/.270/.790 shooting splits.

The Next Up Game is consistently a pretty solid event. There’s generally a real competitive level to this game that isn’t there in most of the other All-Star Weekend activities. Like the other events, this will also follow the same mini-tournament format.

NBA All-Star Game​

When: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 9 PM

TV: NBC and Peacock

The All-Star game is once again trying a new format. This year, the All-Stars were broken up into three teams. Two teams are made of U.S. players, while the third is the international team.

The three teams will play in a round-robin tournament, with each team playing each other. The mini games will be just 12 minutes long.

The teams with the top two records after the three games will face off in the final game.

Mitchell’s team will consist of the veteran U.S. players, as seen below.

• Jaylen Brown
• Jalen Brunson
• Stephen Curry (not participating due to injury)
• Kevin Durant
• Brandon Ingram
• LeBron James
• Kawhi Leonard
• Donovan Mitchell
• Norman Powell

We’ll see if the new format changes make the game more competitive.

Let us know in the comments what event you’re most excited to see and whether you think the new format will change anything.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...eland-cavaliers-donovan-mitchell-jaylon-tyson

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Darius Garland’s toe will sideline him longer than initially expected

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 4: Darius Garland of the Los Angeles Clippers greets former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates after a game at Intuit Dome on February 4, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The rationale for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ decision to trade Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden has been dissected ad nauseam. The team believes that they have a small window to win this season. Harden makes them a better team during that time.

Garland last played an NBA game on Jan. 14 in the Cavs win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He left that game with a right great toe injury. The team announced on the following day that the injury would be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days.

That latest injury was to the opposite toe as the one that Garland injured at the end of last season. The injury to the left great toe is what required him to miss multiple playoff games and led to surgery over the summer.

Garland returned to the court early this season, but never quite looked right. The speed and ability to move side-to-side simply weren’t at the level we saw last season, and he admitted as much at times.

Apparently, the initial injury to the left great toe is going to keep him out “indefinitely” with the Clippers, according to The Athletic’s Law Murray.

Murray recently wrote:

He (Garland) mentioned in his Clippers introduction that he is “back on the court, working out, doing all the things I love to do. Just waiting on the green light — I’m ready to hoop.” (Lawrence) Frank (Clippers President of Basketball Operations) said that the Clippers will change Garland’s injury designation to reflect that the right foot toe sprain that has kept him out for nearly four weeks has healed, while Garland’s still-sore, surgically repaired left foot toe will keep him out indefinitely.

“We are going to manage this correctly, OK?” Frank said. “We are not gonna skip any steps. Because we think the short-term investment will lead to long-term rewards. … We’re gonna get it right and take as long as it takes. But we’re very confident that by taking the time now, it’s gonna give him a long runway. He’s only 26, and we want to see him playing at a high level for a long time.”

As more news comes out, it becomes clear that Garland’s toe was a major factor in why the trade was executed and why the Cavs had to add a second-round pick to make it all work.

So far, the deal has gone well for the Cavs. Harden has played phenomenally, but it is disappointing that the Cavaliers weren’t able to have Garland healthy when they needed him during the last postseason, and that he still isn’t quite 100%.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/nba-ne...expected-to-keep-him-out-longer-than-expected

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Donovan Mitchell comes up short of final in 3-Point Contest

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a 3-pointer during the State Farm 3-Point Contest during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Donovan Mitchell put out a respectable outing in Los Angeles for the 3-Point Contest while sporting a Jaylon Tyson Cleveland Cavaliers’ jersey. However, Mitchell came up in fourth place with 24 points. Mitchell was eliminated at the last minute by eventual champion Damian Lillard who scored 27 points.

Mitchell went second in the order and at the time his 24 points did not appear to be anything to inspire confidence. That was until the rest of the participants went and Mitchell’s score was pretty solid by comparison. Behind Mitchell was Norman Powell (23 points), Tyrese Maxey (17 points), Jamaal Murray (18 points) , and Bobby Portis (15 points).

Donovan Mitchell had to watch from the courtside seats as Damian Lillard, Kon Knueppel, and Devin Booker battled for the 3-Point Contest title in the final round. Knueppel finished with 17 points, while Lillard poured in 29, leaving Booker as the final shooter with a chance to win. Entering his money rack with 23 points, Booker appeared to have the contest in hand. He knocked down his first two shots to reach 27, but missed the final three attempts, ultimately conceding the title to Lillard.

Although Mitchell fell short in the contest, there is still an opportunity for a member of the Cavaliers to leave All-Star Weekend with a victory as part of the USA Stripes squad. He’ll join a veteran group that includes Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, Brandon Ingram, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and De’Aaron Fox.

This year marks a new approach to the NBA All-Star Game format. In Game 1, Team USA Stars — made up of younger American All-Stars like Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, and Tyrese Maxey — will face Team World. The winner of that matchup will advance to play USA Stripes in Game 2, while the loser will also face USA Stripes in Game 3. After the first three games, the two teams with the best records will meet in Game 4 to determine the champions.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...ll-comes-up-short-of-final-in-3-point-contest

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Donovan Mitchell would welcome LeBron back to Cavs: ‘It’s LeBron James right?’

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers wait for a free throw during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 25, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Another day, another write-up about LeBron James potentially joining the Cleveland Cavaliers after his current deal with the Los Angeles Lakers runs out this summer. This time, it was Cleveland’s current superstar, Donovan Mitchell, weighing in on the matter.

Mitchell told SiriusXM NBA Radio that being a teammate with James would be special, but that isn’t his focus right now.

Mitchell’s entire quote can be read below:

“As a Bron fan, to be able to be a teammate, that would obviously be special, but that’s not something in my control. I control what we got here. There’s always going to be reports, that’s natural, it’s gonna be a thing.

At the end of the day, to your point, my main focus right now is trying to get this championship. And whatever it happens, it happens. Like, that’s not up to me, that’s not up to anybody else in the locker room. So I’m big on believing what I can control. But yeah, it’s LeBron James, right?

At the end of the day, that’s not my focus. I’m not here to worry about that. I know I’m gonna get asked about that a bunch all weekend, but my focus is [with the current team]. We just traded for James Harden, Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, I would say, ‘Let’s try to find a way to get a ring,’ and go from there.

"It’s LeBron James, right?"

Here’s Donovan Mitchell’s thoughts on the rumors that LeBron could finish his career in Cleveland@TermineRadio | @Jumpshot8

Click here for more All-Star coverage – https://t.co/j3RPgmlH7e pic.twitter.com/lm2My2U5HQ

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) February 15, 2026

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Questions like this are going to keep coming up, given the recent rumors and the fact that no meaningful basketball is being played during All-Star Weekend.

Mitchell has the right perspective. This isn’t something that he can control, and this Cavs team is good enough to win a championship this season with how open the Eastern Conference is.

At the same time, it’s also worth acknowledging that Mitchell seems open to it based on what he’s said here and the fact that he’s made it no secret that he grew up rooting for LeBron. And there have already been rumors that Mitchell and Harden have started recruiting LeBron back home.

There would be something poetic about Mitchell — who was one of the children in attendance at The Decision in 2010 — potentially leading a championship-level Cavaliers team with James 17 years later.

We’ll see how this all plays out. The team would need to make plenty of roster moves before James could sign with the Cavs for a third stint. However, if both Mitchell and LeBron want this reunion to take place, the Cavs will undoubtedly find a way to make it all work.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...nd-cavaliers-nba-free-agency-all-star-weekend

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Jaylon Tyson leads team in scoring in Rising Stars showcase

Feb 13, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team T-Mac guard Jaylon Tyson (20) of the Cleveland Cavaliers controls the ball against Team Vince guard Egor Demin (8) of the Brooklyn Nets during an NBA All Star Rising Stars game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Cleveland Cavaliers wing Jaylon Tyson had a strong showing in the Rising Stars game on Friday evening. He led Team T-Mac in points (10) and rebounds (5) in their loss to Team Vince.

The format for this competition is a mini-tournament. The two teams played a game to 40 points, with the winner advancing to the final. Since Tyson’s team lost, his night was over after one mini-game.

Tyson performed well. He kept his team in the game with timely scoring and rebounding. He also provided some resistance on the defensive end, which is about as much as you can ask for in this All-Star game setting. It was a solid outing for the second-year Cavalier.

His highlights of the night were a nice alley-oop to Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware and a smooth Euro-step to keep his team within striking distance down the stretch.

HE GOT THAT TO GO.@jaylontyson | @NBAAllStar | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/WeVHsACgcg

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 14, 2026

Donovan Mitchell was there to support his teammate with a front-row seat. He called for the MVP award for Tyson before the game even started, and cheered for him every opportunity he had from courtside.

Jaylon Tyson MVP

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) February 14, 2026

Tyson’s team didn’t have an answer for Philadelphia 76ers rookie V.J. Edgecombe. He provided a game-high 17 points on 6-8 shooting to help lead Team Vince to the victory.

Team Vince went on to defeat Team Melo in the final game of the Rising Stars mini-tournament.

Mitchell is the lone representative for the Cavs for the remainder of NBA All-Star Weekend. He’ll be participating in the 3-Point Contest on Saturday and will be on one of the two US teams in the All-Star Game on Sunday.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...d-cavaliers-all-star-weekend-donovan-mitchell

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Four things to watch as James Harden gets acclimated with Cavs

DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 9: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks off the court during halftime at Ball Arena on February 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a big swing at the trade deadline by swapping Darius Garland for James Harden. Initial returns are positive.

Harden showed up and blended in faster than anybody could have reasonably expected. His gifts in the pick-and-roll are obvious, and with them, Jarrett Allen is flourishing. Donovan Mitchell and Harden already have a burgeoning chemistry and have found each other in key moments. But the team is incomplete, and the regular season does not always resemble the playoffs.

Let’s dive into the details of what to watch as we evaluate the integration of James Harden down the stretch with an eye on playoff scenarios.

On offense​

Offense is not just where James Harden excels, it is where the Cavaliers have struggled in the playoff series they have lost. Where could Harden help or hurt them?

One system or two?​

We know Harden can run a pick-and-roll and will feed the bigs. We know he can get to the line. The greater question is how he will impact the overall flow of the offense.

In the Core Four era, the Cavaliers’ offense has looked its best when it was in continuous motion. They initiate, create advantages, the ball pops, and the defense never catches up. They’ve looked their worst when the ball sticks and the defense catches up and resets itself, or when they fail to break the shell and put the defense in rotation in the first place. We have seen the Cavaliers respond to this truth time and time again over the last four years.

• Secondary initiators who lean towards isolation, like Caris LeVert and De’Andre Hunter, stop the ball and let the defense reset. Even though they are capable initiators, it isn’t an elite skill for them, and it’s not efficient enough. The Cavaliers ask them to adapt their game to motion, but ultimately trade them away.
• Role players are asked to be decisive the moment they touch the ball. When three-point shooters don’t shoot, it allows the defense to reset. Every Cavalier role player is asked to develop another option for when they don’t shoot. Sam Merrill’s leap this season is largely based on developing a more effective drive and dish game after not shooting. Both Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro struggled to develop the same skills along the baseline. When they would hesitate or be reluctant to shoot, they would fall out of the rotation. Both improved, but doing so in the playoffs is what matters.
• Jaylon Tyson’s leap is the embodiment of this philosophy. His emergence is based on a do-it-all skillset and being one of the most decisive players on the roster. The moment the ball touches his hands, he already knows if he is shooting, driving, skip passing, or doing dribble-handoff right back to Mitchell. The defense never resets when the ball reaches him. They barely get to break stride.
• Even Evan Mobley is not immune to this philosophy. The first third of this season saw the Cavaliers experiment with Mobley as an isolation scorer. They would throw him the ball and let him go to work. The results were poor, and the effort was abandoned. The old philosophy returned. Mobley is still a key offensive hub, but the Cavaliers know they need to get him the ball on-the-move with the defense in rotation.

This style of continuous motion is not the norm for Harden. As he once famously declared, he is not a system player, but is the system himself. How true this is on the Cavaliers remains to be seen. Harden plays slow and probes a defense. He is by far the most capable player at this slower, isolation-heavy style that the Cavs have ever had in the Core Four era.

Will Harden be asked to adapt and play Cavs ball? Or will he, at times, be the system?

We have already seen him play faster with the Cavs. But will he move more off-ball? Will he keep the defense in rotation, or will he let it reset and probe it himself when the ball returns to him? If he allows defensive resets, will this mute the impact of the motion-related leaps Jaylon Tyson and Merrill have made? These are all open questions.

The Cavs could attempt to exclusively play their motion-heavy style and fit James in. The man can do it if he chooses. They could also embrace Harden-ball and effectively run two systems, switching between them based on personnel and situation, especially when Harden is on the floor without Mitchell. One system or two? The correct answer to this question is unknown. Having a clear approach is critical though. The Cavs have the rest of the regular season to figure out what they believe is best.

Size matters​

There are two truths of playoff basketball:

1. The intensity, physicality, and ball pressure will ratchet up
2. The space will diminish

Whether it is because of a tighter whistle, specific gameplans, or a willingness to simply not guard certain players, these two truths play out every year.

The Cavs’ offense always looked best with Garland healthy because he is a gifted initiator and playmaker. Harden is too, albeit in a different manner. But there is one thing Harden is that Garland is not: He’s big.

At 6’5”, 220 lbs, Harden can seal off extra pressure and throw over and around double teams in a way that Garland and even Mitchell cannot. He does not especially need to Nash dribble his way out of the paint like Garland when the opportunity isn’t there. He can stop, wait for the collapse, and bruise his way to a passing angle or a foul. He can also punish and back down smaller guards who attempt to defend him. These are the key playoff elements to watch for as the regular season concludes. Can teams blitz and double well beyond the three-point line with Harden handling? Can Harden better navigate a crowded paint with both Mobley and Allen on the court or when defenses ignore the corner shooter?

An extra Cavs-specific size-related item to watch is whether or not James can draw the strongest perimeter defender with Mitchell on the court. There are very few defenders with both the size and strength to stop Mitchell at the point-of-attack. There aren’t many guys built like Lou Dort. If Harden can use his size to force defenses into using their physically strongest perimeter defender on him instead of Mitchell, then defenses all over the league should be concerned.

On defense​

James Harden is not known for his defense, and that isn’t where he is expected to impact the game. That said, there are two important items to watch.

Cross-matching​

While Harden is not a great defender, he is better on-ball than you might think. It is actually off-ball where he is weaker.

One of the lessons of the playoffs two and three years ago was that constantly hiding Garland and cross-matching his assignment was hurting the overall defensive shell as well as the rebounding effort. As a result, the focus of last season was on not helping Garland as much on defense. The Cavs asked him to step up with effort, if not ability, and take on his assignments and hold his own when defenses target him. Garland was even asked to hold up in isolation in detrimental matchups like one-on-one against elite wing players like Jayson Tatum.

What will the Cavs ask of Harden? Will they return to constantly cross-matching? Will they bring help early and often to tag him out? Or will they ask James to step up on defense in the same manner they asked Garland?

Off-ball attention​

This is the big one and the one that takes specific effort to focus on during a game. Harden has looked lost on defense many times in his first few games with the Cavaliers. He’s been drifting and in locations completely unrelated to his assignment. This is understandable for a new player on a new team. It is also a hallmark of the James Harden experience.

The question is an easy but important one. When teams get wide-open three-point attempts and free runs to the rim for offensive rebounds, how often is it because Harden does not know where he is supposed to be or what rotation he was supposed to make? How often is he simply not there? And how quickly does he improve at this, if at all?

The James Harden experience in Cleveland is already looking like a year-one success. The question is how high the ceiling can be and how it all translates to playoff basketball. If we watch with a close eye, we should get glimpses at the answer down the stretch of the regular season.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...hell-darius-garland-jarrett-allen-evan-mobley

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

The NBA’s incessant need to fix the All-Star Game illuminates a much greater issue

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game was an unquestioned success. The convoluted USA vs. the World format made the game competitive for three of the four quarters, which hasn’t happened in at least three decades. Watching the best players in the world participate in a game that somewhat resembled basketball was awesome. For once, the product actually lived up to the billing

This, however, isn’t the first time an innovative format worked in its initial go-around. The 2018 version, after they introduced team captains, had an exciting ending. And the 2020 game that used the Elam ending was one of the best finishes in recent memory.

The league hasn’t struggled to find new formats that work. The issue has been making them do so for more than just one season. Each of the previous changes led to the same issues the following year, which inevitably caused additional alterations.

Like most of the issues the NBA has been trying to tackle under Adam Silver, they’re trying to fix it by not addressing the actual problem.

The All-Star Game format wasn’t broken on its own. There’s a reason basketball is played under the same rules around the world. The real issue was a lack of effort from the players. And there’s no way to really legislate around that with format changes.

The NBA has tried to fix other issues in similar heavy-handed ways.

They wanted to increase the competitiveness of games down the stretch, so they made up the Play-In Tournament. They wanted to make games more meaningful at the beginning of the season, so they created the NBA Cup. They wanted to end load management, so they instituted a 65-game minimum requirement for awards. They wanted to limit tanking, so they flattened the lottery odds and may make further changes.

These innovations are all somewhat justified on their own, but none of them have meaningfully addressed the actual long-term issues.

The problem with playoff seeding not mattering and the start of the season dragging is the fact that too many teams make the playoffs. If you wanted the regular season to really mean something, you’d cut the number of playoff participants to four in each conference. Although, that wouldn’t seriously be discussed since the league would never get rid of an entire playoff round.

Load management is needed because the regular season is too long, given how fast the game is played. But the league isn’t going to attack either of those issues. They don’t want to shorten the season, and they aren’t going to move to a less offense-friendly style of play. So instead, we have the best player — Nikola Jokic — ineligible for regular-season awards.

And lastly, there’s nothing you can do to keep teams from being bad. Making it harder for them to improve through the draft is just going to keep them where they are, which encourages more teams to tank, instead of fewer.

The league isn’t interested in actually fixing the issues that they see within their product. Instead, they’re content to add band-aid solutions that help alleviate some of the symptoms, but do little to solve the core problem.

And every time you make one of these alterations, you’re signaling to everyone that this thing is broken. Nobody proposes drastic changes to something that is working fine.

In the end, the NBA is left waving giant red flags at known problems, while also not meaningfully confronting any of the root issues. This creates an environment where those paid to comment on the league spend most of their energy talking about what’s wrong and proposing narrow-minded solutions, instead of discussing what’s happening on the court.

The NFL has many of the same problems as the NBA, they just don’t seem to care. Teams tank down the stretch for draft position, some of their weekly on-field offerings are downright awful (I’m looking at you, Thursday Night Football), and the Pro Bowl is a complete joke.

But instead of drawing attention to those things, the NFL keeps rolling and highlights what is working.

When you create an environment that the NBA has, where it’s constantly talking about what’s wrong and trying to fix things that they really don’t have the financial incentive to solve, you only magnify the issues.

If they merely admitted that the All-Star Game was never great and just a glorified exhibition, you would’ve saved yourself from the annual negative press that comes after another disappointing weekend. If you just accepted that the playoffs were really what’s important — and teams should do whatever they can to position themselves best for them — then you’d have the ability to celebrate those three months. And if you just came to terms with bad teams existing and created a system that allowed them to get better, you wouldn’t have the same perennial losers at the bottom of the league year after year.

Or if you want to change these things, actually do so.

Yes, this All-Star Game was a success, but recent history tells us it won’t be next season. And until the league is merely okay with this event being the same mediocre product it’s always been for anyone over the age of 18, it’s going to keep being stuck in this loop of inviting criticism and fixes, without being interested in truly solving the root problems. Which is where the association has been under Silver’s entire tenure.

No real fixes. Just temporary solutions that frustrate everyone eventually.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/genera...ba-draft-play-in-tournment-basketball-nba-cup

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Donovan Mitchell’s Stripes team falls short in NBA All-Star game final

Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team USA Stripes guard Donovan Mitchell (45) of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in game two during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images

The new All-Star format was a win for the NBA, even though the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lone representative, Donovan Mitchell, didn’t end up on the victorious team.

This year’s showcase was broken up into four mini-games. Mitchell’s veteran USA team, the Stripes, played against a younger USA team, the Stars, and a third team comprised of international players, the World.

Each team played each other in a 12-minute game. The teams with the two best records faced off in a final contest. The Stripes won their first two games, but ran out of gas in the final game against the younger Stars.

Mitchell played a pivotal role in the Stripes’ win over the Stars in their first game for both good and bad reasons.

With the Stripes up two with 23 seconds left, Mitchell was stripped by Anthony Edwards while attempting a spin move around him. Edwards then hit a transition three to give the Stars a one-point lead with 20 seconds to play.

Mitchell atoned on the final possession. Down one, with under 10-seconds left, Mitchell darted inside, got a pass from LeBron James, and promptly hit an open De’Aaron Fox in the corner for the buzzer-beating game winner.

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Mitchell finished that game with six points on 2-3 shooting with three assists and two turnovers in his team’s 42-40 victory over the Stars.

The Stripes followed that up with a narrow 48-45 win over the World in their second outing.

Kawhi Leonard took control of that game, going 11-13 from the field for 31 points and two steals in the 12-minute game. This included hitting the game-winning triple with three seconds left.

Mitchell didn’t play as large a role in the second game. He didn’t attempt a shot, but was able to provide a block on Alperen Sengun.

The veteran-laden Stripes came undone in the final game against the younger USA team. James, Kevin Durant, and Leonard were all a step slow after playing three-straight games, and their two younger starters, Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown, did little to help.

The Stripes were down 26-9 halfway through the 12-minute game by the time Mitchell checked in. They went on to lose 47-21 with Mitchell providing six points in the contest.

Overall, Mitchell combined for 12 points on 4-7 shooting with three assists in 17 minutes across the three games.

Anthony Edwards received the Kobe Bryant Trophy for All-Star Game MVP.

This new All-Star format was fun. It was a definite win over some of the previous iterations with this resembling a basketball game for most of the night. The first three games were entertaining, before the event ran out of steam at the end.

Still, this was a clear step up from how unwatchable the All-Star Game has been in recent years.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...ll-star-game-lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Lakers front office is ‘doubtful’ LeBron James will return; Cavs speculation heats up

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays against Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 29, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The future of LeBron James remains as uncertain as ever as Los Angeles Lakers’ governor Jeanie Buss sounds doubtful the King will be returning next season, according to Alex Sherman of CNBC. Either because of retirement or choosing to play for another team (potentially his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers?).

“Never say never, but you know, he certainly hasn’t given us an indication,” Buss said. “He’s earned the right to decide how his career will go, and you know, he continues to impress.”

James, to this point, has kept his cards close to his vest. He’s refused to give any hint as to where he’ll be playing next season, or if he’ll be playing at all. This is a can that he keeps kicking down the road. Naturally, that means the next few months are going to be a never-ending cycle of speculation.

So, buckle up.

It only makes sense that in all of this chaos, the Cleveland Cavaliers are repeatedly found at the center of it.

Can anyone come up with a better ending to LeBron’s historic career than returning home for one final championship run? Another title in Cleveland would be more valuable than winning anywhere else. It’s the type of thing that sounds too perfect.

But the stars are aligned. The Cavs have dug themselves out of another rebuilding process and could, hypothetically, add James back into the mix on a minimum contract. Whether or not James would agree to that is another story. The point is, it’s possible.

Still, LA is not out of the picture. Sure, they’ve made Luka Doncic the new cornerstone of their franchise and have largely put James on the back burner (at least, aesthetically). But the Lakers are still reportedly open to having James back next season. I’d imagine all 30 NBA teams would welcome James, but you get the point.

“If James wants to play a 24th season, he would be welcomed back in LA. Pelinka declared before the start of this season that he would love it if James retired a Laker, and that sentiment was meant to reflect a 2026 retirement or a 2027 retirement, if James intends to extend his career.” via ESPN

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...n-james-will-return-cavs-speculation-heats-up

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

James Harden shouldn’t need your validation, but still does

Feb 11, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) stands on the court in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

James Harden is a walking paradox.

The newest Cleveland Cavaliers star is a man who’s inarguably changed how basketball is played — especially by those at the top of the game. He has birthed an entire generation of players who put their own spin on the heliocentric, perfectly spaced, three-outcome offense he pioneered. Jayson Tatum, Trae Young, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are all offshoots of this mold.

The main difference? Two of those players have won a championship. Harden hasn’t. And until he does, Harden won’t get as much validation for changing the game as he deserves.

“At this point of his career, he’s still very, very talented, very, very good,” Donovan Mitchell said. “You look at the desperation of him. The first thing we talked about was, like, man, this could be his last chance to try and go ahead and get a ring. And we’re all in the locker room with the same mindset. So when you have that desperation from everybody up top, everybody else follows.”

On one hand, it’s fair to judge Harden for not being able to deliver a championship. Basketball is a team sport, but when your team’s entire philosophy is built around making sure one person can succeed, you can’t really divorce the team results from the individual.

At the same time, winning a championship is outside of just one person’s control, and it always will be.

“This whole ring culture thing is crazy,” Mitchell said. “It is what it is, right? I can’t fight it. It’s just what it is. That’s the way we value people.”

Two weeks ago, if you told a Cavs fan that there would be a packed house for a weekday game against the shamelessly tanking Washington Wizards team, with nearly everyone in attendance there to see Harden’s debut with the team, they would’ve thought you were crazy. But reality is often stranger than fiction.

We live in a world where James Harden isn’t just on the Cavaliers, he’s why they’re the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

The Cavs are soaring up the standings and playing their best basketball of the season. Harden’s ability to unlock Jarrett Allen, provide elite three-level scoring, and, most importantly, not take away from what Mitchell does best is a large reason why the team is succeeding.

The on-court production that Harden provides is apparent. Fans are typically going to like the guys that makes their team good. But embracing Harden to this level and this quickly speaks to how Harden is one of the most entertaining players when you remove the outside noise about his playing style.

For many basketball fans, Harden represents what’s wrong with the current NBA.

Harden hops from team to team as the ultimate basketball mercenary. He is the basketball epitome of the three-outcome baseball player, but in this instance, it’s threes, rim attempts, or free throws. And, the lengths he goes to initiate and highlight defensive contact can be revolting if he’s doing so against your favorite team.

These criticisms are completely fair, but they shouldn’t overshadow the artistry and skill that Harden plays with.

In many ways, Harden is the Drake of basketball. He has the talent and mastery of the craft to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing players of all-time, but sacrificed it all at the altar of commercial success.

Instead of prioritizing the technical mastery of Kobe Bryant operating in the midrange, Harden bypasses that part of the floor altogether by seeing how many steps he can take without dribbling to get from the three-point line to the basket.

Instead of going to the basket with the combination of force and grace that Dwyane Wade did, he’s seeing if he can hook a defender’s arm and still get an off-balance floater to fall.

And instead of hunting for threes by tirelessly navigating off-ball screens like Ray Allen, he’s going to cut out the middle man and create that look himself by taking the largest possible step backward he can and hoist the shot up that way.

These changes have been looked at as deskilling the game, when in reality, it’s just a simplification.

Taking exaggerated step-back threes or contorting your body to highlight contact on drives while still keeping your balance requires incredible talent. Being able to do these things as an individual player, and not relying on others to run specific sets to get these shots off reduces variables and leads to more predictable positive outcomes. This is what has led to Harden consistently captaining elite offenses, regardless of the team context, for the last 17 years.

Some changes to the game are embraced. The way Stephen Curry revolutionized how we thought about three-point shooting and how to create those looks was celebrated. Harden’s ruthless efficiency hasn’t been, even though he’s done more to change how the game is played at the highest level than Curry ever did.

At the height of his powers, Harden completely eliminated the midrange shot and focused only on taking threes, shots at the rim, or getting to the free-throw line. He also played in systems with perfect spacing and minimal off-ball movement. Harden needed to know where everyone was on the court. If the help came, he made the correct pass out to the assist.

During his MVP season, this style of play led to being in the 100th percentile in points per shot attempt, usage, and assist percentage. All the while, with just a slightly below-average turnover rate, which is exceptional considering how much he handled the ball. In short, there are very few offensive engines — especially those that are guards — who have put together as special a season.

This style of play should’ve been the NBA intelligentsia’s dream. Harden is the personification of basketball’s version of Moneyball, with his ruthless pursuit of figuring out how to apply his skills best to get the most success for himself and his team. Instead of being celebrated, he was derided for ruining the game.

Harden is unquestionably one of the best guards ever, and his influence on how the game is played is rivaled by only a few in history, regardless of team success. That, however, won’t be how history remembers him unless he plays a significant role on a championship team.

Fortunately for him, this Cavs team gives him another chance to change that narrative, and he knows it.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve really said that throughout my career,” Harden said about the championship possibilities. “Given the depth, the shooting, the athleticism, the versatility that we have, yes.”

Maybe validation doesn’t truly matter for Harden. He doesn’t seem like someone who lies awake at night thinking about how the rest of the world perceives him, unlike one of his former teammates in Oklahoma City. At the same time, it would be a disservice to how we talk about the game if he isn’t remembered as one of the very best players of his generation years down the line. And that isn’t right.

Just because you don’t like how the artist applies their skills doesn’t make them less of one.

“But at the end of the day, I don’t think it’s fair,” Mitchell said. “I don’t think it’s right. But, whatever.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-f...championship-houston-rockets-donovan-mitchell

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs vs. Nets: How to watch, odds, and injury report

BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 24: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 24, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the easiest schedules in the league after the All-Star break, but they have a tough stretch to start things off. They play five games in seven nights, and they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons (twice), and the Boston Celtics over the next two-and-a-half weeks. That will be a good test to show how the new-look Cavs stack up with the best teams in the league.

Fortunately for Cleveland, they have an easy one to open things up against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

The Nets are one of the worst teams in the league, and aren’t actively trying to win games. They should present a good opportunity for the Cavs to get off to a good start.

The Cavs will also be among the healthiest they’ve been all season. Evan Mobley and Dean Wade are expected to play. They’ll only be without Max Strus (foot) and Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who was just added to the injury report with calf soreness.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (34-21) vs. Brooklyn Nets (15-38)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Thur., Feb. 19 at 7 PM

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App, NBA League Pass

Point spread: Cavs -16

Cavs injury report: Max Strus – OUT (foot), Nae’Qwan Tomlin – OUT (calf soreness), Emanuel Miller – OUT (G League), Tristan Enaruna – OUT (G League), Riley Minix – OUT (G League)

Nets injury report: Nic Claxton – OUT (ankle), Tyson Etienne – (G League), Chaney Johnson – OUT (G League), E.J. Lindell – OUT (G League), Josh Minott – OUT (G League), Ben Saraf – OUT (G League)

Cavs expected starting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Nets expected starting lineup: Nolan Traore, Egor Demin, Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Day’Ron Sharp

Previous matchup: The Cavs defeated the Nets 131-124 on Oct. 24 in a 22-point game from Jarrett Allen.

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	118 (8th)	114.1 (11th)	+3.9 (8th)
Nets	111.5 (26th)	119.4 (27th)	-7.9 (27th)

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Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-i...s-vs-nets-how-to-watch-odds-and-injury-report

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

LeBron James compliments Cavs trade deadline moves: ‘I think they added a lot’

30 September 2024, USA, El Segundo: Basketball, NBA, Media Day, Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James answers questions during a press conference. Photo: Maximilian Haupt/dpa (Photo by Maximilian Haupt/picture alliance via Getty Images)

There’s a lot of smoke around a potential LeBron James return when his current deal with the Los Angeles Lakers ends at the conclusion of this season. James once again added fuel to the fire by having some nice things to say about the Cleveland Cavaliers in the most recent episode of the Mind the Game Podcast after their moves to acquire James Harden, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis at the trade deadline.

First, LeBron was complimentary of the team going out and getting Harden.

“They felt like they needed another playmaker, someone that’s been there, kind of been in this situation before, and they added James, perennial All-Star who’s still putting up All-Star numbers,” James said. “He gives Donovan Mitchell another, like, ball handler guy who can make shots late in the game.”

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LeBron seems like he has a lot of respect for Harden. Back in June 2024, Rich Paul said that his client would accept a paycut from the Lakers if it meant he could play with an established playmaker or big man. Harden was one of the players Paul listed.

Making the move to acquire Schroder and Ellis also received the king’s blessing.

“Those pickups that they got from Sac as well,” James said. “Schroder, a former teammate of mine, you know that’s going to compete every single night, and Keon Ellis, the guy’s going to compete, make shots. Like, those guys are going to be, I think, really, really good for that team, especially in the East, where it’s a lot of bulk.”

LeBron — like seemingly every man over 35 years-old in America — has a podcast. He talks about the NBA, and Cleveland’s moves at the deadline have been mostly praised. From that perspective, his doing so isn’t newsworthy.

At the same time, LeBron has been in this business for a long time. He knows that his words have meaning, and he sees all the noise about him returning to Cleveland. If he wanted to quiet that down, he’d avoid talking about his former team — especially on his podcast, where he presumably controls what gets released.

We’ll see what happens this summer. In the meantime, James believes the Cavs are better prepared for the playoffs now.

“You’ve got to have some dogs in there, so I think they added a lot.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...t-mind-the-game-james-harden-donovan-mitchell

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Kenny Atkinson weighs in on the NBA’s tanking debate

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 30: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the first half of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

CLEVELAND — Tanking has been a bigger issue this season than most — at least it is based on how the national media is covering it. As a result, the NBA is trying to find ways to curb that.

According to a recent report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the league is looking into adding anti-tanking measures. Things on the table include: changing first round pick protections, lottery odds freezing earlier in the season, the odds being based on the record over several years, flattening the odds, and more.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has heard the noise. As of now, he doesn’t have a good solution to fix the supposed issue.

“I kind of don’t want to get into that,” Atkinson said when asked if there was a tanking issue before Thursday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. “It’s so complex.”

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There’s a lot of moving parts with the tanking conversation, and not all of them have to deal with the draft.

The current CBA has incentivized star players to leave in trades instead of free agency. This has created an environment where draft picks have arguably become more valuable in trades than ever. Messing with the odds would change the currency and value of those picks.

Then, there’s also the fact that it’s hard to get talent to go to small markets — like Cleveland. As the Cavs have shown, the draft isn’t the only way to bring talent in, but it is one of the easiest and simplest ways to do so.

“I understand all sides,” Atkinson said. “Teams, they want to get another James Harden, they want to get a Donovan Mitchell, so I understand that. But I also understand the side where we want a competitive game every night for the media, for the fans, for the coaches, right? Competition is the essence of the NBA.”

Figuring out how to make games matter, but also funneling talent to the worst teams in the league has been a difficult balance for the NBA to strike. Even if you found a way to get rid of tanking, you can’t keep teams from being bad. Presumably, a healthy sports league that’s gone to great lengths to ensure competitive balance doesn’t want bad teams to stay that way year-after-year.

We’ll see what the league does to address this. There’s a lot of potential solutions, but none that clearly help all parties involved.

“I’ve seen all the alternative proposals,” Atkinson said. “I wish I could sit up here and say, hey, I want to champion this one. I haven’t studied it that deeply, but I understand the sentiment and the frustration.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...cleveland-cavaliers-brooklyn-nets-adam-silver

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

7 Takeaways from another strong Jarrett Allen performance in Cavs win over Nets

Feb 19, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) is introduced before the game between the Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers ran away with a stress-free 112-84 win over a bad Brooklyn Nets team. Let’s get into what that means for the Cavs moving forward.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson is known for his motion-based offense. That free-flowing system is one of the things that made him so attractive in 2024 to a Cavaliers team that couldn’t figure out how to make it work on that end with their two big configuration. J.B. Bickerstaff’s stagnant offense, based mostly on high pick-and-rolls, didn’t work with that roster.

Hiring Atkinson transformed the offensive attack, but the James Harden trade has changed everything again. They won’t be reverting to what they were under Bickerstaff, but there’s going to be much more high pick-and-rolls than what we saw from the best regular-season offense in the league last year.

Right now, the Cavs are pick-and-roll merchants. They’ve spammed it over the past four games and have had great success doing so. Given their personnel, there’s no reason to see that changing anytime soon.

“It’s a lot of things,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernández said before the game when asked what makes a good pick-and-roll player. “It’s not just ball handling, but it’s also how you use your body. It’s how you set up the pick-and-roll, how you prepare the play. … Good pick-and-roll players can destroy every coverage.”

The Cavs guards did that, particularly their newest one.

Brooklyn decided to trap Harden on ball screens. He countered by accepting the double team and coolly making the right read time after time.

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“It’s almost like a quarterback leading a receiver,” Atkinson said about Harden’s playmaking. “You don’t have to wait for it. You catch it kind of in stride.”

Jarrett Allen has been the biggest beneficiary of this type of offense. He once again dominated inside. And unlike his previous strong showings, he did so with Evan Mobley on the court as well.

The immediate chemistry with Harden and Allen has stood out. They both seem to understand where the other is at all times, despite playing just four games together. This speaks to how good both are and how well their talent fits.

“Being on the outside, I can say he’s better than I thought he was in the sense he’s able to catch the ball, finish around the rim with both hands,” Harden said of Allen. “He has so much touch around the rim, and that’s probably one of the most underrated parts of his game.”

Allen is a good vertical spacer. He can sky up for alley-oops and finish those as good as any rim-running center. That can sometimes obscure how technically sound Allen is as a scorer inside. The combination of both skills has led to him converting 77% of his looks in the restricted area this season (87th percentile) and 82% since the new year (95th percentile).

It’d be wrong to credit Harden entirely for Allen’s good play. His passing just allows Allen to showcase those skills more consistently.

“James and [Allen] have a great connection, and everybody is really feeding off that,” Mitchell said.

It’s also worth pointing out that Allen is playing more aggressively. The Cavs have made a better effort of getting him involved earlier and are reaping the reward for doing so.

The best version of Allen is one that is actively hunting for ways to be involved offensively. He’s been doing so recently.

“He’s been a beast, just super aggressive,” Mobley said of Allen. “Every single time he sees a mismatch or anything, he’s going down to the paint and getting two points every single time. We need that from him.”

Mitchell’s scoring continues to benefit from playing alongside Harden. Harden was able to set Mitchell up for one of the best alley-oops of the season with a pass that even Mitchell said he didn’t think he was going to finish. But more importantly, the space that Mitchell has when the defense is keying in on another dynamic guard has given him much more room to attack.

As we’ve seen with Mitchell, he really doesn’t need too much room to make defenses pay.

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The Cavs are still figuring things out offensively. They have only had one practice since the Harden trade, and most of the work they’ve done is in film sessions so far. That will presumably limit what they can implement.

That said, they are working on building a system that best fits their offensive pieces. Atkinson is using these next few weeks as an “observation period” to see what works and what doesn’t. At this point, it doesn’t seem like he’s rigidly clinging to any one system, but would seemingly prefer a blend of both a heavy pick-and-roll and movement-based offense.

“You got to lean on your best player’s strengths,” Atkinson said. “That’s part of this observation period. [We need to find out] how much moving and cutting we want. We’re still doing a fair amount. But you know, you just got to be careful against a blitz, because if you start running guys away and into the lane, you know, James has no outlet. So it’s almost like you have to have a blitz package and read that. And then when you’re in a normal coverage, we can do our cutting.”

Things couldn’t have gotten off to a better start in the James Harden Era. The team is clicking on all cylinders. I’ve mostly talked about the offense, but the defense was superb as well, as they registered their best defensive rating in a single game this season.

It’d be unwise to make too grand a proclamation after four games, especially considering the defenses they’ve gone up against. At the same time, it’d be difficult not to be optimistic about where this could go.

“This little winning streak has been nice, but you definitely see the level we’re at now,” Dean Wade said. “It’s a little higher than it has been.”

It most certainly is.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...en-donovan-mitchell-jarrett-allen-evan-mobley

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

13 Stats to explain the Cavs 118-113 victory over the Hornets

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 20: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 20, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers did enough to outscore the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 to win their seventh game in a row.

The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass.

Effective Field Goal Percentage	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	Offensive Turnover Percentage	Free Throw Rate
Cavs	59.7%, 79th percentile	33.3%, 70th percentile	13.2%, 63rd percentile	33.8, 93rd percentile
Hornets	50%, 24th percentile	44.6%, 97th percentile	15.6%, 39th percentile	22.8, 61st percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

• Both the Cavs (129.7 offensive rating) and the Hornets (125.6 offensive rating) finished with single-game offensive ratings that were in the 80th percentile or above. How both teams got there was very different. Charlotte did this by controlling the offensive glass and generating second-chance points. Cleveland did so by shooting great from the field and by getting to the free-throw line repeatedly.
• Charlotte registered 37 second-chance points. They did so by grabbing 23 offensive rebounds, many of which were due to not being able to track down long rebounds from missed threes. Additionally, being without Evan Mobley made this problem worse. Still, it’s frustrating when the Cavs are beaten this handily on the offensive glass.
• The Cavs registered 18 second-chance points of their own. This would be a solid output on most days. For example, the team that leads in second-chance points per game — the Portland Trail Blazers — does so with 18.5 per contest. Even though this is much lower than Charlotte’s 37, being able to get these helped soften the blow. Jarrett Allen grabbed seven of Cleveland’s 10 offensive rebounds.
• Cleveland is now 18-2 when Allen scores more than 15 points and 10-0 when he scores 20 or more. Allen put up 26 points on an efficient 11-15 shooting. He was arguably the team’s best player again — which has become a common occurrence over the past three or so weeks.
• Additionally, they’re 14-0 when Allen attempts 10 or more shots. He took 15 in the win over Charlotte.
• The Cavs took 42% of their shots at the rim (90th percentile). This has been a recent trend. They’ve registered over 40% of their shots in the restricted area during their last three games. Allen’s good play, and how the offense has shifted after adding James Harden to the mix, play a large role in that.
• The Hornets converted just 43.5% of their shots in the restricted area (1st percentile). The Cavs didn’t necessarily do a great job of defending the three-point line. They struggled with their rotations out to shooters, especially in some of the Hornets’ guard-to-guard screens, but they made up for it by controlling the paint. The easiest way to have a good defense is by defending the rim. The Cavs did that at a high level. Getting to the basket is still the most efficient way to score.
• The Cavs took their fewest three-pointers of a game this season (21) despite shooting 47.6% from deep (92nd percentile). The offense did a great job of generating clean outside shots while getting the ball inside when those looks weren’t there. They’ve come a long way from the side-to-side action that led to the contested, standstill threes that we saw at the beginning of the season.
• Cleveland posted a great 109 half-court offensive rating (81st percentile). Having two dynamic guards in Donovan Mitchell and Harden, who are this effective in the pick-and-roll, will lead to an elite half-court offense. There’s a reason why they’ve been so good in this area in the five games Harden has been with the team.
• The Cavs are now 21-8 when Mitchell scores 30 or more points and 18-4 when he scores 32 or more. These numbers don’t correlate to winning as Allen’s scoring totals do, but generally speaking, this team has typically won when Mitchell is scoring at a high level. That happened again here as he poured in 32 points in the victory.
• This was Mitchell’s 100th 30-point game with the Cavs. He’s cementing himself as one of the best players in franchise history. Here’s to a few hundred more.
• Keon Ellis led the team in plus/minus by being a +19. He’s played six games with the Cavs and was a +17 or better in three of those games. So far, the Cavs have played some of their best basketball with him on the floor. The defensive energy he brings fits in well with this group.
• The Cavs registered a 143.5 offensive rating with Harden on the court. That was the second-best number for a Cavalier behind only Allen (147.4). Coming into this game, the Cavs had an outrageous 129.4 offensive rating when Harden is playing (100th percentile). Simply put, the offense has been unstoppable with Harden through five games. This is exactly what he was brought in to do.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...-cavaliers-jarrett-allen-donovan-mitchell-nba

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

10 Takeaways from another Jarrett Allen masterpiece in Cavs win over Hornets

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: A close up shot of the hair belonging to Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 7, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers did enough to win their second game in as many nights. They defeated a good Charlotte Hornets team 118-113 to capture their seventh victory in a row.

The Cavs need Jarrett Allen to play at this level. He’s shown these past few weeks that this team is at its very best when he’s actively involved in the offense. That came through once again as he put up 26 points on 11-15 shooting to go along with 14 big rebounds.

I’ve generally been skeptical of reading too deeply into how the Cavs’ record correlates with Allen’s shot attempts or scoring output. Causation doesn’t always mean there’s a correlation.

Additionally, it’s common for stats like this to be misleading. For example, football teams typically have a worse record when they attempt more than a certain number of passes. This isn’t because passing is ineffective or bad. It’s just that teams that are behind in a game have to pass more often than those that are winning. This leads to stats like this being skewed.

That’s how I’ve typically viewed Allen’s production numbers. And I was wrong for doing so.

Allen’s rim pressure just opens up the offense for everyone. This was clear in the string of games before they got James Harden. Now, it’s even harder to ignore after they traded for one of the best pick-and-roll distributors of all-time.

The Cavs’ biggest problem was not getting Allen involved enough. That hasn’t been an issue with Harden. Passes like this force Allen to be aggressive. He simply has no other choice.

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When Allen is beating you like this, defenses can’t send two to the screen and hope the rotation stops the roller. However, not doing so opens up looks for the ball handler, like this clean pull-up three for Harden.

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Allen is the big the offense should prioritize first.

Evan Mobley being in the lineup has the potential to make things more difficult, even though that didn’t happen on Thursday against a bad Brooklyn Nets team. He’s another center who needs to be fed in a similar way to be effective offensively.

That said, Allen should be the main target over Mobley. His screening and the rim pressure he provides — as we’ve seen these past several weeks — are much more valuable offensively. There’s simply no excuse for ignoring Allen after this many strong showings.

Outside shooting teams like the Hornets can give the Cavs problems defensively. Charlotte head coach Charles Lee came from the Boston Celtics, and a lot of his team’s offensive philosophies trace back to his time in Boston. How Charlotte and Boston generate threes is different, but the amount they take and how they do a good job of rebounding misses is similar.

The Cavs didn’t do a great job of defending the three-point line. The Hornets got back into this game by going 8-15 from distance in the third quarter. They were able to generate open outside shots with simple guard screening actions or by forcing the defense to collapse and then found the open shooter as a result.

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Cleveland’s defensive philosophy is predicated on defending the basket. This is a sound strategy and ultimately the right one. Scoring in the restricted area is still the most effective way of doing so. And in this game, the Cavs did a great job of keeping the Hornets from getting there as Charlotte converted just 43.5% of their shots at the rim (1st percentile).

That said, teams like Charlotte and Boston don’t necessarily attack the basket because they want to score. They do so because they want to create in rhythm threes.

This is an area where the starting backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Harden are suseptable. Neither is good at keeping their defensive assignment in front of them. Their teammates know this and are ready and prepared to rotate over to help, which can lead to open shooters on the perimeter.

Charlotte lost this game because they went cold in the fourth quarter and ended up converting just 35.7% of their 56 three-point shots. However, many of those misses were more due to shot variance than anything the Cavs were doing defensively.

The Cavs have struggled on the glass against teams that know how to rebound their missed threes.

Charlotte racked up 23 offensive boards. Nine of those were due to Ryan Kalkbrenner being an immovable object inside. There’s not much you can do about someone that big. However, they also retrieved a fair amount of their missed threes that didn’t have as much to do with him. That’s more of a concern.

Missed threes can bounce further off the rim. If you want to grab those, a good place to run is to the free-throw line. Kenny Atkinson, when he has been asked about this in the past, has said that you need good rebound spacing against teams that shoot this many threes. The Cavs didn’t have that.

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The Hornets were rewarded for their efforts on the glass with 37-second chance points.

These two concerns are why the Celtics are the worst playoff matchup for the Cavs. Boston also hunts threes and prioritizes offensive rebounding, but they’re overall more talented on both sides of the ball. On top of that, they have one of the best coaches in the league. I don’t want to get too derailed by this tangent, but it’s worth pointing out after a game like this.

Harden and Sam Merrill have developed great chemistry. Merrill hit four shots against Charlotte, and three of them were assisted by Harden.

Like Allen, Merrill was seemingly created in a lab to play with Harden. He’s a smart off-ball mover who knows where to be to create the best angle for a pass. He’s also great at attacking off screens. Throw in Harden’s ability to make every pass and process the game at a high level, and you have a formidable duo.

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I’m not sure why you would double-team Harden.

The Hornets tried to force the ball out of Harden’s hands late. He accepted the double, found the outlet in Mitchell, and then this led to an open three for Dean Wade. This was a great and well-executed sequence from Cleveland’s perspective.

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The Cavs have consistently handled Harden being trapped well. They’ve properly spaced the floor, and Harden has made the right play seemingly every time.

Keon Ellis is incredibly entertaining to watch defensively. Few players have his energy, lateral quickness, and nose for the ball. This combination creates someone who’s both a sound man defender and is also a chaos agent who can seemingly come out of nowhere to completely blow up a play.

So far, Ellis has registered at least two stocks (blocks and steals) in the six games he’s played with the Cavs. On Friday, he collected two steals by baiting his opponent into a pass that he knew he could take away.

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Players who gamble for steals and blocks like this don’t always lead to their team playing better defense. Typically, you need to gamble too much to do so. But it isn’t a gamble for someone who has Ellis’s length and quickness.

Not counting Friday’s game, Cleveland has registered an impressive 108.9 defensive rating with Ellis on the floor, which is only going to get better after the Cavs had an 87.5 defensive rating in the 24 minutes Ellis played in Charlotte.

“He’s maybe the most unique player,” Atkinson said after the game. “[He’s] totally not what I thought. [He’s a] unique, unique player. Sometimes he gets a deflection, and you don’t even see how it happens. His hands are so fast. … He’s a quick jumper off the floor to get contests. … Man, what a unique player. Really a game changer.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...s-jarrett-allen-james-harden-donovan-mitchell

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs at Thunder: How to watch, odds, and injury report

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JANUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to drive past Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center on January 16, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This was supposed to be a measuring stick game for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They only play the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder twice. Even though this will be a good test, Oklahoma City’s injuries keep this from being a marquee matchup

The Thunder will be without their two best players in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ab strain) and Jaylin Williams (hamstring). They’ll also be missing a great perimeter defender in Alex Caruso (ankle). That will take some of the luster off this contest.

The Thunder have really struggled offensively this season in lineups without Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Caruso. In those configurations, the Thunder have posted a 106.1 offensive rating (4th percentile). The defense is still formidable with a 107.9 defensive rating (93rd percentile), which has helped keep them afloat.

This will be a good test for Cleveland’s new-look offense with James Harden. The Thunder have still been elite on that end, thanks to their front court of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. However, they aren’t the same team on offense. We’ll see if the Cavs can take advantage.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (36-21) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (43-14)

Where: Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK

When: Sun., Feb. 22 at 1 PM

TV: ABC

Point spread: Cavs -2

Cavs injury report: Max Strus – OUT (foot), Tristan Enaruna – OUT (G League), Riley Minix – OUT (G League)

Thunder injury report: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OUT (ab strain), Jalen Williams – OUT (hamstring), Alex Caruso – OUT (ankle), Jay Mitchell – OUT (ankle), Thomas Sorber – OUT (knee)

Cavs expected starting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Thunder expected starting lineup: Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein

Previous matchup: Thunder defeat Cavs by 32 on Jan. 19.

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	118.3 (7th)	113.9 (9th)	+4.4 (8th)
Thunder	119.2 (4th)	107 (1st)	+12.2 (1st)

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Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-i...t-thunder-how-to-watch-odds-and-injury-report