James Harden and Donovan Mitchell enter Game 2 with their reputations and Cleveland’s season on the line, the report says, as the Cavaliers trail the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 1-0. The postseason outcomes for both stars — and the future of a roster described in the report as the most expensive in basketball — hinge on how the duo responds.
Mitchell told ESPN he understands the burden of being a No. 1 option and has welcomed Harden’s arrival, saying he values having a veteran who has “been where I’m at and trying to go to.” The Cavaliers acquired Harden in a trade that sent 26-year-old former All-Star point guard Darius Garland to another team, pairing Mitchell, 29, with the 36-year-old 11-time All-Star.
Coach Kenny Atkinson said the pairing clicked immediately, adding that the franchise got Harden “at the right time,” per the report. The report traces Harden’s evolution from a young bench scorer to a volume scorer and perennial MVP candidate, and now to a more traditional point guard role that Atkinson and the organization see as fitting Cleveland’s needs.
Early playoff performance has intensified the spotlight. The Cavs needed seven games to dispatch the Toronto Raptors in the first round, and both stars have shown uneven play since. Mitchell began the playoffs with consecutive 30-point games but has been held under 25 in six straight outings, averaging 20.5 points, shooting 30 percent from 3-point range and attempting 1.7 free throws per game, the report says.
Harden has also struggled at times, turning the ball over more times than he has made field goals in three of his past six games and recording that imbalance 29 times over his playoff career — the fifth most in NBA history, per the report. Harden acknowledged the urgency, saying progress comes through communication and mutual help.
Neither Harden nor Mitchell has won a championship, and Mitchell has never reached a conference finals, the report notes. How the Cavs finish this playoff run will be pivotal for both players’ narratives and for Cleveland’s short-term outlook, according to the report.
