Cavs Roll Out Harden and Mitchell in a Lineup That Sounds Like a 2K Glitch

If you told a basketball fan five years ago that James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Jarrett Allen would be starting on the same team, they would assume you turned off the salary cap in a video game. Now, it is just a regular Saturday in Cleveland.

Underdog NBA confirmed the Cleveland Cavaliers are rolling out a starting five of Harden, Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, and Allen for their weekend matchup. It is a lineup that features two guys who desperately need the ball and three guys who are just hoping to get a touch before the shot clock expires.

"Underdog NBA tweeted: 'Lineup alert: Cavs will start Harden, Mitchell, Watson, Mobley, Allen on Saturday.'"

Cleveland is trying to find some stability after a rough stretch. They are coming off a tight 114-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks and have dropped three of their last four games, including a couple of track meets where they surrendered 125 points or more.

The defensive strategy here is basically just hoping Mobley and Allen can erase every mistake made on the perimeter. Allen is in the lineup, but his knee has been a lingering issue recently, which makes relying on him to clean up the glass and anchor the paint a risky proposition.

For anyone staring at the betting board, trying to untangle the usage rates in this backcourt is a nightmare. Harden and Mitchell are both going to get their shots, meaning Watson is essentially out there to play defense and do wind sprints.

Watching this group try to build chemistry in real time is pure sports theater. You have an offensive backcourt that treats passing like a last resort, paired with a frontcourt that desperately needs someone to throw them a lob.

We will find out quickly if this configuration can actually stop anyone. The Cavaliers have to turn right around and travel to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, and if the perimeter defense does not tighten up, this expensive roster is going to keep bleeding points.