For Cavaliers to make this a series, Donovan Mitchell will have to lead them — again

DETROIT — These are the moments they pictured. That’s what they told us. When the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired James Harden at the trade deadline, it was for nights like this.“I’m really excited about when it gets to a chaotic time in the playoffs, and we’re on the road, and it’s a fever pitch, being able to throw the ball to him and calm this thing down,” Cavs president Koby Altman said after acquiring Harden. “Let’s get a good possession. Let’s get a good possession when it gets really, really tight and it’s loud in that building.”Yeah, about that …It isn’t working. It was a valiant effort, but the idea of Harden leading a plodding, iso-heavy offense against Detroit’s half-court defense is playing the Cavaliers out of the postseason. Harden looks old and slow against the young, relentless Detroit Pistons defenders who bring long arms and twitchy legs that the Cavs haven’t matched.Advertisement