For Kenny Atkinson, James Harden gave the Cavs confidence
With Celtics and the Clipsit’s another team in very good form in the east. THE Cavaliers they have seriously picked up the pace since mid-January. The positive dynamics, started before him, to which the new arrival contributes today, James Harden.
Kenny Atkinson believes his arrival gave “ increasing self-confidence » to his team, which recorded a record of 22 wins and 19 losses in mid-January. His Cavs have lost only three times since then, and above all have collected 15 wins. Of which the latest last night against the Knicks.
« We are aware that we are the better team. That mindset, that confidence, for some strange reason makes you play harder, be more competitive, and give more intensity on defense », judge the coach.
« I felt like we were missing that little something, that edge, that conviction. I feel like we’re finding it again. And a lot of it has to do with who we got in exchange », Kenny Atkinson continues about this transfer that sent Darius Garland in the opposite direction, to the Clippers.
Cleveland now has a record of six wins and just one loss, against the Thunder, with James Harden. ” We’re pretty good, but the crazy thing is we’ve only had two practices together. There are nights when we just play on instinct, for each other. (…) We are basing ourselves on the video sessions and on the basketball IC present in this locker room; the boys are doing well on the pitch and playing fair “, describes Donovan Mitchell.
James Harden prioritizes defense
An instinct that is paying off collectively today as much as the newcomers, averaging just under 19 points and 8 assists on an excellent 49.4% shooting (including 48.8% from distance).
« We have a few more steps. What do we have left, 25 games? I think we can do it. In fact, I’m sure of it. It will start with the defense, because in the attack we can have six players with 10 or more points. Defense will be key. If we can really focus on that, string together stops and limit opposing teams to just one shot per possession, we’re going to be very, very hard to beat », projects James Harden in a speech rarely heard from him.
The Cavs followed through on those intentions well tonight by blocking their approach to the basket in the third quarter, limiting New York to just 11 points. According to ESPNthis is the most barren quarter of the Knicks, limited to a total of 94 pointsfrom November 2022
This victory against a direct competitor allows James Harden and his team to have the same record as the Knicks with 37 wins and 22 losses. The Challenge: Reach the No. 3 seed in the East, or even return to the Celtics…
https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=IiOvfoPNslc
| James Harden | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2009-10 | OKC | 76 | 22:52 | 40.3 | 37.5 | 80.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 9.9 |
| 2010-11 | OKC | 82 | 26:42 | 43.6 | 34.9 | 84.3 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 12.2 |
| 2011-12 | OKC | 62 | 31:23 | 49.1 | 39.0 | 84.6 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 16.8 |
| 2012-13 | NEW | 78 | 38:16 | 43.8 | 36.8 | 85.1 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 25.9 |
| 2013-14 | NEW | 73 | 38:02 | 45.6 | 36.6 | 86.6 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 25.4 |
| 2014-15 | NEW | 81 | 36:48 | 44.0 | 37.5 | 86.8 | 0.9 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 27.4 |
| 2015-16 | NEW | 82 | 38:07 | 43.9 | 35.9 | 86.0 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 29.0 |
| 2016-17 | NEW | 81 | 37:13 | 44.0 | 34.7 | 84.7 | 1.2 | 7.0 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 29.1 |
| 2017-18 | NEW | 72 | 35:26 | 44.9 | 36.7 | 85.8 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 8.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 30.4 |
| 2018-19 | NEW | 78 | 36:45 | 44.2 | 36.8 | 87.9 | 0.8 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 36.1 |
| 2019-20 | NEW | 68 | 36:31 | 44.4 | 35.5 | 86.5 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 34.3 |
| 2020-21 | NEW | 8 | 36:15 | 44.4 | 34.7 | 88.3 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 10.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 24.8 |
| 2020-21 | BKN | 36 | 36:38 | 47.1 | 36.6 | 85.6 | 0.8 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 10.9 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 24.6 |
| 2021-22 | BKN | 44 | 36:59 | 41.4 | 33.2 | 86.9 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 10.2 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 22.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHI | 21 | 37:43 | 40.2 | 32.6 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 10.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 21.0 |
| 2022-23 | PHI | 58 | 36:49 | 44.1 | 38.5 | 86.7 | 0.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 10.7 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 21.0 |
| 2023-24 | LAC | 72 | 34:18 | 42.8 | 38.1 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 8.5 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 16.6 |
| 2024-25 | LAC | 79 | 35:18 | 41.0 | 35.2 | 87.4 | 0.7 | 5.1 | 5.8 | 8.7 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 22.8 |
| 2025-26 | CLE | 7 | 32:09 | 49.4 | 48.8 | 86.7 | 0.9 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 8.0 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 18.9 |
| 2025-26 | LAC | 44 | 35:26 | 41.9 | 34.7 | 90.1 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 8.1 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 25.4 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-02-25 10:23:00
