James Harden’s early-season rhythm has been about more than shot-making. The Cavs guard has been working his way back into game shape, too, after a summer that left him behind the curve.
Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported that Harden did not come to training camp in good condition and is still playing catch-up. Harden said he spent little time in pickup runs over the summer, and he expected the adjustment to the NBA’s pace to take a while.
“I knew it was going to take a little bit of time to get adjusted to the speed, the pace, all of the above,” Harden said, via Vardon. “I’m not young, so I can’t just be ready (immediately), so I already knew that coming into the season.”
At 37, Harden knows his preparation has to look different than it did earlier in his career. The Cavs, though, still need steady production from their starting point guard as they chase more than just a playoff berth.
That’s what made the uneven opening stretch worth watching, and why Wednesday stood out. Harden delivered a season-high 32 points in the Cavs’ 115-107 win over the Knicks, going 9-of-14 from the field and turning it over only twice in 33 minutes.
“So now it’s like, all right, cool, (now) I feel really good,” he said. “And the work is automatically getting put in. That’s why I have been able to last so long in this league.”
Harden said his emphasis has been “trying to get in really good shape and learn my teammates.”
The Cavs don’t need him to look like the version of himself from his peak years. They do need him to be dependable in the role they’ve given him. Wednesday was a good sign that he’s getting there.
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