The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a surge of confidence and momentum after acquiring 11-time All Star James Harden. They’ve gone 6-1 since Harden joined, boosting their playoff chances. Harden’s arrival has re-energized the Cavs’ spirit and intensity, especially on defense.
This recent momentum change aligns perfectly with their 8-2 record in their last 10 games, and there is a noticeable shift in team dynamics. Harden’s impact has been nothing short of immediate, averaging nearly 19 points and 8 assists on 49% shooting, despite having little to no time to adapt.
Harden is also known as a guy who makes everyone around him better; he is able to dish the ball all around the court and distribute so everyone touches the ball. People love playing with him because he is just a boost of morale for those around him.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said, “Bringing James on has given us a renewed confidence,” after their win over the Knicks. He also stated, “It makes us play harder, compete harder, especially defensively. We’re regaining that edge.”
This shows how he is making those around him better.
Cleveland’s defense is now clicking, highlighted by holding the Knicks to just 11 points in the third quarter of their previous game, the lowest since November 2022 they’ve scored. Donovan Mitchell praised the teammate chemistry and the IQ of the team; he noted that the team is just overall playing smarter.
The turnaround isn’t just recent though, Cleveland is 20-7 since their loss on Christmas where they blew a 17-point lead to the Knicks on national television. That is good for the best record in the NBA since Christmas Day.
The trade that brought Harden to Cleveland was a high-stake move; it involved ex-Cavalier Darius Garland and a future second round pick going to the Clippers. Harden arrived holding his highest-scoring season in six years.
Harden expressed the team’s confidence and their potential, “We got a few more notches to get to, but I think we can get there. It’s going to start defensively because offensively we can have six guys in double figures.”
This shows how James believes the team is going to ramp it up a little more because he believes they have guys who can score the rock, and it’ll transfer to the defensive end of the floor.
This trade signifies a huge moment for both franchises, with Cleveland aiming to solidify their standing in the Eastern Conference and Los Angeles restructuring for their own ambitions. The Cavs are now tied for the No. 3 seed in the East, which puts them in a great position to be a contender in the NBA’s landscape.
Harden also said, “Really hone in defensively and get stops, limit teams to one shot, we’re going to be very, very tough.”
Harden emphasized the importance of defensive consistency in the upcoming matchups. The Cavs have a rough schedule coming up where they play some of the top teams in their conference and the keys that are being talked about need to be executed.
