The Cleveland Cavaliers looked to be in cruise control in their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors, as they took the first two games of the series without much fuss.
But the narrative of the series has changed, as the Raptors have utilized homecourt advantage to full effect and have taken Games 3 and 4 to tie up the series at 2-2 — making Game 5 all the more crucial as the series shifts back to the Cavs’ homecourt of Rocket Arena.
There are so many factors that have contributed to how the Cavs have struggled over their past two games against the Raptors. Donovan Mitchell’s play has been subpar. A Raptors rookie big man is outplaying both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen combined.
And James Harden, the team’s big trade deadline acquisition, has been more passive on the offensive end, averaging just 18.5 points in two road games compared to 25 in the two wins back at home.
Nonetheless, Harden is vowing that the Cavs will be better, and they have to be, as it is as close to a nightmare scenario as it can get if they fall down 3-2 in the series once they go back to Toronto for Game 6.
“We’ve got to be better. We will be better,” Harden said, per Nate Ulrich of Akron Beacon Journal.
For Harden, the majority of the Cavs’ issues has been self-inflicted and they have to take a look in the mirror as they try to rectify those mistakes.
“We’re extremely confident,” Harden added. “We understand their game plan and what they’re doing. The last two games they’ve been pretty effective at it. Just finding things to counter that, to rebound the ball better and limit turnovers.”
“I think all the things that we’re doing is self-inflicted and things that we can control, things that we can get better at.”