Kenny Atkinson: James Harden has given Cavs 'renewed confidence'

"Bringing James on has given us a renewed confidence, if that makes sense. We understand we're a better team. That spirit, that confidence for some strange reason, makes you play harder, compete harder, compete harder defensively. I felt like we were kind of missing that edge, that belief. I feel like we're regaining that. A lot of it has to do with who we added in the trade."

"We're pretty good, but the crazy part is we've had two practices. There's some nights we're just playing off of each other. We're just going off film and going off our IQ in this locker room and guys playing off each other and playing well."

"We got a few more notches to get to. We got what, 25 games? I think we can get there. Matter of fact, I know we can get there. I think it's going to start defensively because offensively we can have six guys in double figures. Defensive is going to be key. If we can find a way to really hone in defensively and really get stops and limit teams to one shot, we're going to be very, very tough."

The Cleveland Cavaliers are experiencing one of their best stretches of the season following the acquisition of James Harden from the LA Clippers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round pick. Coach Kenny Atkinson credits the 11-time All-Star's addition with restoring the team's confidence and competitive edge, particularly on defense. The Cavaliers are 6-1 since the trade and have won eight of their last nine games. Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points in a 109-94 victory over the Knicks, while Harden averaged 18.9 points and 8.0 assists on 49% shooting across seven games. Despite limited practice time together, the team is performing well through film study and basketball intelligence. Harden emphasizes that defensive improvement will be crucial for the team's continued success.

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