James Harden is a problem for the Cavs: “I need time”

The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t started the season the way they hoped. After entering the season with high expectations, their 6-7 record shows how far they still are from where they were expected to be. And James Harden is one of the players drawing the most scrutiny.

The Beard is off to a rough start, putting up numbers below his usual standards and struggling to find consistency. His conditioning could be part of the reason.

According to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, Harden showed up to training camp well short of game shape. Harden essentially confirmed as much, admitting he barely played basketball over the summer.

Harden admits: “I knew I’d need some time”

According to Vardon, Harden still isn’t in peak game shape and is using the first few weeks of the regular season to get his rhythm back.

Harden didn’t come into training camp in good shape, and he still isn’t. He’s using this early part of the season to get in shape. At least he knows it. He admitted he didn’t play much pickup over the summer and knew that, at his age, he’d be a step slow until he got his wind back

Joe Vardon

Harden hasn’t tried to hide it, explaining that his body needs more time than it used to to adjust to the pace of the NBA.

I knew I’d need some time to get used to the speed, the pace and everything else. I’m not as young as I used to be, so I can’t be ready right away. I knew that before the season started

James Harden

The 37-year-old, though, sounds convinced he’s finally on the right track.

I feel really good now. The work I’m putting in is naturally starting to pay off. That’s part of why I’ve been able to stay in this league for so long

James Harden

Cleveland is waiting for the real James Harden

Right now, the numbers back up what we’ve seen from Harden. Through the first 13 games of the season, he’s averaging 16.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists, shooting 39% from the field and 38.6% from three.

Those numbers are well below what we’ve come to expect from a former MVP with three scoring titles and 11 All-Star selections.

Mobility appears to be the biggest issue. Harden is struggling to create separation and beat defenders off the dribble, two things that were central to his game for years.

This isn’t the first time Harden’s conditioning has come under scrutiny, but this time his struggles are also affecting the team’s results.

With Harden far from his best, much of the offensive load falls on Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, who have had to pick up the slack.

So far, it hasn’t been enough.

The Cavs can’t afford a limited Harden

Cleveland built an ambitious roster with a payroll of roughly $212.5 million. That investment makes such an uneven start even harder to accept.

To compete with the best teams in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers need Harden back at his best, especially when it comes to running the offense and creating opportunities for his teammates.

The good news is that Harden seems aware of the problem and, by his own account, is already starting to feel the benefits of the work he’s put in over the past few weeks.