How the NBA’s most dangerous backcourt is learning each other on the fly

Beating the Narratives

There’s a broader point to be made of this duo. Both Mitchell and Harden have suffered similar shortcomings in the playoffs. They’ve fallen victim to the same narratives. Two dynamic shot creators who can’t get over the hump. High usage stars who will burn themselves out before going the distance. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the criticisms surrounding both players. But they no longer have to do it all on their own. Working together as a duo might be what it takes to finally get that chip off their shoulders. “I think Harden balances it,” said Atkinson. “I still get a little crazy with Don, like ‘Don pass the ball’ and then he goes and makes an incredible shot — it’s just finding that Michael Jordan maturity and balance. Just knowing when to [score], but I do think James being beside him helps a lot. It balances it out a little because Don realizes he doesn’t have to do it all himself.” Cavs fans have seen Mitchell play the hero. It can be amazing to watch him leave it all on the floor — like when he scored 48 points to elevate an injury-riddled Cavalier team against the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of last year’s playoffs. But those points came at a high cost to his body. All of the bruises he earned while attacking the basket took a toll. And by the end of the game, his exhaustion contributed to Cleveland blowing their lead in the closing minutes. Now, Mitchell has a sidekick. If a defense is making it too costly for Mitchell to score, he can lean on Harden to take the pressure off him. “There are a couple of times where Don’s in isolation, and they start crashing, and so he just throws it to James,” said Atkinson. The effect goes both ways. Mitchell can suck in multiple defenders and dish it to Harden. Or Harden can warp the floor with his own playmaking to open gaps for Mitchell to attack. The two guards work in tandem to pose an impossible challenge for even a top-ranked defense like Toronto. “You have a guy who can create for himself and others, it just makes it tough,” said Mitchell. “You have to figure out how to guard it. If he runs the pick-and-roll with Ev, do you help off me? Do you stay? There’s a trust level between the two of us and among the group.” Trust is key. Mitchell has scored 30+ points in each game to open his series versus the Raptors. Neither effort took more than 25 field goal attempts — a mark he reached in four of five games against the Pacers last season. Harden, meanwhile, has totalled 50 points on just 32 field goal attempts across his first two playoff games with the Cavaliers. Maintaining that balance will be the difference between a deep playoff run and another early exit. “They’re selfless with each other because they’re on the same page and they want to get to that next level, that next step,” said Atkinson.