Newly acquired James Harden didn’t disappoint in his Cleveland Cavaliers debut on Sunday, as he logged 23 points and 8 assists to go along with a couple of clutch shots from deep to secure a come-from-behind win over the Sacramento Kings.
Already 36, there’s no question James Harden can still put up points and hoop. But can he become the Cavs’ missing piece for another shot at the NBA championship, or will this be another one of his failed projects?
Spida and The Beard Connection in Cleveland
The Cavs’ new duo of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden will obviously take a while to mesh fully. The growing pains were evident in the game against the Kings, as both struggled in the first half, seemingly scared to step on each other’s toes. However, when they played their best in the fourth quarter, there’s only one thing that needs to be pointed out—they’re going to be hard to stop.
When all was said and done, Mitchell had 35 points to add to Harden’s 23 and 8.
It should also be pointed out that Mitchell needs a co-star on top of a superb supporting cast to come out of the Eastern Conference. Spida is a star for sure, but he hasn’t proven that he can carry a team in the playoffs. The Beard, on the other hand, is already a tested veteran but hasn’t really found the right team since leaving Houston in 2020.
After losing Ty Jerome in the offseason, the Cavs badly needed a secondary playmaker behind Darius Garland. Safe to say that they got a huge upgrade after trading Garland and getting Harden in return. They also added Dennis Schroder in a separate deal prior to the Harden swap. Both players are excellent floor generals, but the former MVP seemingly raises the Cavs’ ceiling the most.
That’s because with the former MVP on the floor, the possibilities for Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are endless, as he’ll do wonders for two of the best young big men in the league right now, like he always does. Case in point: Allen had 29 points against the Kings and was a preposterous 11-for-12 from the field, as he was the beneficiary of a few Harden dimes.
James Harden the Journeyman
James Harden has already been in the NBA for 17 seasons, yet after the trade deadline last week, he’s once again the new kid on the block after being dealt to the Cavs. Before transitioning to the East, Harden was averaging 25.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game.
While getting Harden is an upgrade on paper, the Cavs still must be wary, given The Beard’s history of requesting trades when things don’t go his way. He did it with the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers. What will keep him from doing the same with Cleveland down the road?
For now, though, the Cavs are James Harden’s best chance of finally getting a ring. The East is relatively weaker compared to the West, and with one of the NBA’s all-time great scorers, the conference is definitely winnable. The Boston Celtics don’t have Jayson Tatum, the Milwaukee Bucks are a mess, and the Indiana Pacers are out of contention this year. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks aren’t what people are expecting them to be, while the Philadelphia 76ers just can’t stay healthy. Even the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors, the two teams ruling the East thus far, are fairly young and inexperienced.
Then again, James Harden isn’t getting any younger and will soon start to slow down. At least for now, he’s still putting up insane numbers, and that should bode well for the Cavs. The question is, can he stay consistent for Cleveland and be the missing piece to their championship puzzle?
