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[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