The Athletic NBA Daily Harden’s Cavs Debut + Blatant Tanking
Feb 9, 2026
They break down Harden’s Cavs debut and how he fits with Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. They react to blatant tanking in Utah and debate the ethics of benching stars. They spotlight Charlotte’s nine-game surge and LaMelo and Brandon Miller’s growth. They also dissect the messy Eastern Conference and Minnesota’s baffling inconsistency.
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Rockets' Depth Undermines Their Ceiling
- The Rockets' starters look solid but their bench and ball-handling depth are glaring weaknesses.
- Those weaknesses make late-game execution and playoff outlooks uncertain despite Kevin Durant's presence.
Harden Fit Hinges On Two-Man Game
- James Harden's early Cavs debut showed scoring and playmaking but defensive fit remains a question.
- His ability to create for Jarrett Allen and hit wide open threes behind Donovan Mitchell is the most promising indication of fit.
Coach-Led Tanking Threatens Integrity
- The Utah Jazz executed an overt, coach-driven tank by resting key players and avoiding timeouts in the fourth.
- That level of intentional losing risks harming league integrity and will likely increase as more teams tank.