Cavs’ Evan Mobley already seeing benefits of playing with James Harden

James Harden has wasted little time making an impact with the Cavaliers. Now Evan Mobley may be the next teammate to benefit.

Harden’s chemistry with players such as Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill has been evident during his first nine games with Cleveland. Mobley has had less time to build that same rhythm after missing several of Harden’s early appearances due to a calf strain.

Still, the early results have been encouraging.

“He’s not scared to take risks,” Mobley told reporters after practice Saturday. “There’s a lot of benefits with how he just controls the game.”

Mobley and Harden have shared the floor for just five games and 99 minutes, but Cleveland has thrived during that stretch. The Cavs are scoring 118.4 points per 100 possessions and allowing just 102.3 when both are playing.

In other words, it has worked.

The partnership could face an early test Sunday when the Cavs host the Boston Celtics. Allen is out with lingering knee soreness, potentially leaving Mobley as the primary center.

That means more pick-and-roll opportunities with Harden. 

Mobley believes his role is simple.

“I got to be dominating the paint,” he said. “Setting good screens and being aggressive.”

Learning a new pick-and-roll partner takes time, Mobley added.

“Tendencies are the main thing,” he said. “How they like to throw it, when they want to attack. As you play with him, you learn more and more.”

Basically, the Cavs like what they see so far.

“We’ve done a great job so far,” Mobley said. “We just have to keep sharpening it.”