Cavs Notes: Jarrett Allen, Dennis Schroder, James Harden

Jarrett Allen didn’t just catch fire when James Harden arrived. The spark came earlier.

According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, coach Kenny Atkinson pulled Allen aside on January 28 and told him he needed him to “step up.” Message received.

Since then, Allen is averaging 20.8 points and 11.2 rebounds during a 9-3 stretch. Yes, Harden has made life easier in the pick-and-roll.

But Allen was already trending upward before some trade chatter faded and the deadline passed without a deal.

“Probably,” the forever-humble Allen said when asked if this is the best stretch of his career. “The numbers speak for themselves.”

• With Harden sidelined Wednesday because of his fractured right thumb, Dennis Schroder stepped into the starting role and looked comfortable doing it. He finished with 26 points and five assists in the loss at Milwaukee. Atkinson didn’t hesitate afterward. “I’ve always felt he is a starting point guard in this league,” he told reporters. Schroder twisted his ankle late but indicated he expects to be fine. If Harden misses time, Cleveland believes it has coverage.

• As for Harden, the expectation remains that his injury won’t keep him off the floor for long. He’s left-handed. The injury is to his right thumb. He’s been evaluated by a specialist. No surgery required. And Harden has never been one to sit unless absolutely necessary. There’s a break in the schedule coming next week, too. The Cavs aren’t panicking. Harden isn’t either.