Cleveland Cavaliers Prepare for Second Half of the Season
Cleveland, Ohio (AP) – The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken a significant step in their preparations for the rest of the season following the All-Star break, as they held their first full practice on Wednesday. This session marked the first opportunity for coach Kenny Atkinson to work with the team since acquiring superstar James Harden on February 4.
Emphasizing Simplicity
Following the All-Star festivities, Atkinson emphasized the importance of simplicity in their approach despite having a single practice to implement new strategies.
“After being away for some time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the number of things to cover. Instead, we focused on simplifying our game plan to highlight what truly matters,”
Atkinson stated. The Cavaliers aim to maintain competitiveness in the second half of the season, refining their strategies along the way.
Harden’s Impact and Team Dynamics
Since joining the Cavaliers, Harden has showcased exceptional adaptability, contributing an average of 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game, including two double-doubles. Teammate Jaylon Tyson has noted Harden’s defensive capabilities, stating that he was surprised to discover Harden’s effectiveness on that end of the floor, pointing out his ability to block shots and his overall engagement in defense.
All-Star Donovan Mitchell, averaging 29.0 points per game and ranked fifth in the league for scoring, acknowledged the ongoing adjustment phase with Harden.
“We haven’t really had the chance to explore our synergy in a two-man game yet, but as we continue to develop together, I have confidence we’ll be productive,”
Mitchell remarked.
Defensive Strategies and Upcoming Games
During practice, a significant portion of the team’s focus was directed towards defensive strategies, particularly highlighting their struggles, as the Cavaliers currently rank among the bottom for 3-point defense in the NBA, allowing opponents a 37.2% success rate from beyond the arc. To integrate newcomers such as Harden, Dennis Schroeder, and Keon Ellis, the team revisited some foundational training camp concepts.
Furthermore, Atkinson indicated that Evan Mobley and Dean Wade could return in their next game against the Brooklyn Nets. Mobley, recognized as the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, has been sidelined with a left calf strain for the past seven games, while Wade suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for three games.
Current Performance and Future Challenges
Since Harden’s arrival, the Cavaliers have won all three of their games, and currently, the team is riding on a five-game winning streak. With a record of 17-5 since December 29, they hold the best winning percentage in the league during that timeframe, sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference, just 1.5 games behind the second-place Boston Celtics. The upcoming game against Brooklyn initiates a challenging schedule, with five games slated over the next seven days, including a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder and a home game against the New York Knicks.
Mitchell stressed the importance of staying focused through this demanding phase:
“We need to be mentally prepared for this stretch of games; it’s a critical time for us.”
