Free extension for sports fans
Advertisement
Advertisement

Cavs’ numbers raise more questions about James Harden’s fit

The Cavs brought in James Harden to make life easier for Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Through the opening stretch of this season, the numbers suggest those partnerships need work. Quite a bit of it, actually. Danny Cunningham of Locked…

Published: Wednesday, 11 November 2026 at 12:40 AM
Cavs’ numbers raise more questions about James Harden’s fit
Key Things to Know
  • Lineup statistics show the Cleveland Cavaliers perform significantly worse when James Harden shares the floor with Donovan Mitchell.
  • Cleveland scored 111.5 points per 100 possessions with Harden and Mitchell together, compared to 129.2 with Mitchell alone.
  • The Cavaliers were outscored by 6.4 points per 100 possessions during 246 minutes featuring Harden and Evan Mobley.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Early-season lineup data indicates the Cleveland Cavaliers are struggling significantly when James Harden shares the court with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Locked On Cavs analyst Danny Cunningham highlighted lineup metrics showing Cleveland produces much better offensive and defensive ratings when Mitchell plays without Harden, as well as positive net ratings when Mobley plays without him.

Sam Amico writes that while the 5-6 Cavaliers face multiple issues, including rebounding and defensive execution, head coach Kenny Atkinson must find combinations that function effectively. Amico stresses that the Cavaliers need their core players to complement each other and perform better.

Advertisement

Never Miss a Sports Update

Get the latest sports news and top stories from MySportsTab delivered straight to your inbox.

No spam. Just the latest sports news and updates.