The Cavs’ New Offense Is A Problem
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Over James Harden’s first 7 games with the Cavs they went 6-1 behind the best offense in the NBA, in large part thanks to a new dynamic duo.
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30 Comments
as a cavs fan i’m holding my breath. i know james harden is a historical play off choker
What is Cleveland’s ceiling? 🤔
I need a clingan video he’s becoming a top 5 big🤫
I can’t believe how good this turned out.
Everything about this feels so genuine.
Can u make a spurs vid?
everybody but orlando huh
I've never been a Harden fan, and I have serious doubts about his ability to deliver in the playoffs.
BUT I have noticed he's been more team focused since he's come to the Cavs. More PNR playmaking, less isos. He's shown a willingness to defer to Mitchell rather than hog the ball contantly; he's not running around screening or cutting or anything, but he's willing to spot up and shoots 3, which is miles better than when he would stand at mid court pouting if he didn't get the ball every possession.
Maybe, just maybe, an aging Harden has realized that this might be the last chance he ever gets to seriously contend for a ring, and maybe he's realized that he needs to accept being part of team to make that happen.
Excited to see this team in the PS
Some notes: Harden reads the low man defender every single time on the pick and roll and it makes life so difficult since you can’t cheat over early. It’s why you see defensive coverages look mediocre or conventional against him.
The Cavs are too good when they can keep an advantage moving. Harden’s dribble is too secure and the Cavs are as good at dribbling as they are shooting. Switching is best when the team’s ball-handling gets stifled but Harden just continues to set up the action. I personally think drop defense is the best defense against Harden, especially since Harden isn’t super efficient as a scorer. Force him to score 40 without fouling. Against Mitchell, switching is better because it actually stifles the ball-movement. Neither is good of course.
I don’t see any team in the East being able to truly bother the Cavs’ offense. Even before Strus comes back. The bigs are comfortable against Duren and Detroit, Harden and Mitchell were literally bringing up the ball and passing it to the other side of the court where Brunson or KAT was to attack them and the Celtics likely have the best shot but I don’t trust Vuc to defend in space at all.
Although it’s mostly because of their very underrated defense, I think Cleveland should be heavy favorites to make the finals.
The Thunder and Nuggets are more interesting. The Thunder seemed to struggle to bother the Cavs’ ball-handling after that 1st quarter onslaught and I think it was mainly because of not having JDub to guard bigs and switch onto Harden. If the Thunder don’t have JDub, their defense will probably have problems against the Cavs too. A healthy Nuggets team is perhaps the greatest offense ever and their size is the biggest problem for the Cavs but on defense I think they could hold up fine given that fact about their offense.
Against the Thunder, the Cavs will need Max Strus for the extra spacing (and yes, Strus can play the backup 4 full-time in the playoffs). Against the Nuggets, it’s simply a tale of two incredible teams facing off again each other but the Nuggets are bigger and have Jokic.
I’ve compared this Cavs team to the ‘25 Pacers and ‘23 Nuggets. I think their offense is slightly worse than either team because Harden is more unreliable as a scorer or playmaker than Jokic or Haliburton and could be prone to very inefficient games but the Cavs’ defense is better than either team. In general, I think they’re worse than the ‘23 Nuggets and I don’t know who was better between this Cavs team and last year’s Pacers.
Best case: only see Det / NY, sneak into Finals, losing in 5.
If only Schröder was a solid starter, esp a wing for some depth. Someone like De’Andre Hunter, even. Heck I’d even come off of Ellis, too, to get someone like Hunter who could allow for them to ≠ be dwarfed everywhere
I just realized before watching the video they already have some chemistry from Brooklyn right or did he not take off until Harden left
Play-off meltdowns aside, Harden has let himself age gracefully. I am surprised how impactful he is at his older age cus some of the high usage players/iso heavy dudes dont translate in the latter part of their careers but harden is still a core piece to a contender.
James Harden is getting all the credit for Jarrett Allen's offensive production, but he was scoring before scoring Harden and is still scoring over 20 now that Harden is out with injury. He plays better on offense when Mobley is not on the floor at the same time.
it’s safe to say he is the system
This guys voice is so fake and annoying. And the pitch mlb voice having ars ol kermit the frog after puberty sounding ars. SYWAU
The unstoppable PNR will be stopped deep in a playoff series, as it always has been. The Cavs will go as far as Don takes them. I'd like to see this Cavs team win a title as it has a lot of likable players, but I don't actually trust them to make the Finals or win it.
Allen is the most improved player this year
He always goes left, like 100% of clips in this video. Can't teams deny him the side to make his job harder?
These dudes will be hurt play off time
Harden will let you down come Playoff's. That's who he is.
It should be noted that Allen has also just been awesome even without Harden the entirety of February.
He's just a really skilled big whose talent has been particularly amplified by the best PnR creator of his generation
like the pistons
just hope they wouldnt flop like themself last year…
Coop video when 😢
That pass at 11:44 is disgusting
Sadly theres wemby in the championship game
I can't believe that harden is this good after this much time… that one 2019 season really stained my view of him.
One word:
Contenders.
Love your videos
Do you think you could make a video on the Lakers struggles and what they're not doing right.