James Harden Reality Hits Cavaliers As Honeymoon Ends

The honeymoon phase describes early excitement after a new beginning. Teams overlook flaws. Expectations feel limitless. Everything seems to click. That glow surrounded Harden’s arrival in Cleveland. Early wins and seamless chemistry suggested instant success. The first loss shifted that tone. It invited scrutiny and signaled the honeymoon had ended. Now the real work begins.

Through seven games, Harden has clearly elevated Cleveland’s floor. He averages 19 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and two stocks per game. He has also boosted Jarrett Allen’s production. Harden has built a reputation for elevating big men. Allen looks like the latest beneficiary. Since Harden arrived, Allen averages 21 points, 11 rebounds, and one block per game. He plays with greater intensity now, addressing the lack of energy that had previously frustrated Cavaliers fans.

Questions still remain. Allen struggled against OKC. Evan Mobley returned to the lineup, and Allen scored just 11 points. Concerns about their fit resurfaced. He responded with 19 and 27 points in the next two games. That response matters. Consistency will define Cleveland’s ceiling.

Fit, Function, and the Ceiling Question

Head coach Kenny Atkinson must solve the Mobley-Allen pairing. He needs it to function like the tandem of Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren in Oklahoma. Harden gives Cleveland a new pathway to make that work. His skill set simplifies reads for both bigs.

Harden remains the league’s best three-level driver. He draws fouls at will. Harden uses floaters and step-backs when defenders cut him off. He also finds bigs with precise lob passes. This optionality collapses defenses deeper into the paint. It creates vertical passing lanes instead of kick-out opportunities. That distinction suits Mobley and Allen perfectly. They thrive above the rim, not on the perimeter. Harden’s system can mask that limitation.

The Cavaliers will win games down the stretch because of James Harden’s durability and versatility— he adapts to multiple lineups. He rarely misses games. “The Beard” has played over 60 games in 14 of 17 seasons. He is on track to do it again. However, he now deals with a fractured thumb in his non-shooting right hand, sustained against New York. Harden plans to play through it since it doesn’t require surgery. That matters. Darius Garland’s toe injuries derailed Cleveland last season and his continued absence hurt them badly this year.

The defense has also improved. Since acquiring Harden, Cleveland ranks inside the top 10 defensively. His size gives them more upside than they had with a pair of smaller guards. The early returns are promising. Harden has clearly raised the team’s floor. The real question remains. Can he raise their ceiling enough to deliver a championship since 2016?