Cavs HC Kenny Atkinson Gives Bold Take on James Harden-Donovan Mitchell Pairing

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson isn't worried about the fit between new point guard James Harden and backcourt mate Donovan Mitchell.

"Great players fit together," he told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. "Usually, it's rare that that doesn't work. So now it's up to us as coaches and collaborating with Donovan and James on what that looks like, how that looks, what do the rotations look like, how we stagger them, how we play when each is alone on the court, how we play when they're together. That's all things to figure out. But usually when you have such talented players and I can't emphasize this enough, high-IQ players, it makes it a heck of a lot easier for the coaching staff to figure out. I think with the great ones, you step back and let them be themselves."

The potential concern with that backcourt is that both players are high-usage guards who like the ball in their hands. But Mitchell believes it will work.

"I've played off the ball before," he told Fedor. "But it's also an understanding that you can play two different styles. You can play the isolation, pick-and-roll style, which James has been phenomenal at. Then you can play like we did tonight, with consistent movement. So, what are you going to do? If he's on the ball in pick-and-roll and I'm standing over there, away from the ball, what do you do? It's really a pick-your-poison situation. But it's not necessarily just a stagnant type of basketball. It can be and it can be effective. But with somebody who thinks the game like he does, he can get guys in rhythm, get guys involved, get guys moving, there's a lot there. I think once we all find where our comfort zone is in different areas, that's what will make it tough for other teams. When you add a guy like James, who knows how to play the game, the sky is the limit."

If it does, the Cavaliers are going to be a real threat in the Eastern Conference given the talent they have on hand. Cleveland has fallen short in recent postseasons, but Harden is a clear upgrade over Darius Garland and should add a new playmaking dynamic to the Cavs.

If it works it's going to be fun. Atkinson and Mitchell believe it will.