Cavaliers will be tested coming out of All-Star break

CLEVELAND — Coming off the All-Star break, the NBA's schedule-makers didn't do the surging Cavaliers any favors. Starting with the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday at Rocket Arena, Cleveland is playing six games in nine nights. Included in that stretch are two sets of back-to-backs on the road against the top two teams in the NBA and a home game against the rival New York Knicks. The Cavs travel to the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday and trek to the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 27. The Central Division-leading Pistons have the best record in the league. Thrown in there for good measure is the rapidly improving Charlotte Hornets tonight and the always-tough Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday — both on the road. "Hey, this is a tough stretch coming up," Cleveland shooting guard Donovan Mitchell said. "We have to be locked in and ready to go. You can look up and be in bad shape right away coming out of the break." The Cavs have won their last five games heading into the Brooklyn game, 3-0 with James Harden on the roster. Now, they are running into several contenders and upper-echelon teams. "This is an important stretch coming up," Mitchell said. "How do we handle it?" Mitchell and Harden make up perhaps the most potent offensive backcourt in the league. In their first three games, they've shown good chemistry. Mitchell, a seven-time All-Star, said it can always get better. "It wasn't perfect," he said. Mitchell said he's impressed with Harden's "mentality." The players and coaches marvel at Harden's basketball IQ. "James did a lot of talking (at practice on Wednesday)," Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. "We tried to provoke that and take advantage of his skillset. It's better that the players hear it from him than from me." Mad Max Atkinson expects to see Cavs swingman Max Strus on the court before the end of the regular season. He had foot surgery in the offseason and has yet to play in a game this year. "Getting him back at any time will be a bonus," he said. "Of course, we would like a runway. Having him for a playoff run would be a win for us." Strus has been practicing with the team but has yet to have any contact. If or when he does return, it will add to Atkinson's crowded rotation. Strus' name came up during the trade deadline. Some thought he would be dealt to get under the dreaded second apron of the luxury tax. The Cavs must have thought he'd be available at some point this year or they would have traded him. Strus averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 50 games last year. Medically speaking Atkinson said he's thrilled the Cavs are getting healthier. "We're almost there," he said. "Max is the last piece. We've got to figure out the rotations and lineups. The minutes' distribution is going to be difficult. Everyone has to sacrifice. It's a good problem to have." Atkinson said his goal is for players to know their roles and when they're coming in and out by the time the playoffs start. Counting the Nets game, there are 27 games remaining in the regular season. "That's a fair sample size," he said. "That's enough of a runway to set the rotations." Forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin (left calf soreness) and Strus were the only two players sidelined against Brooklyn. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.