For as far back as some can remember, James Harden’s biggest weakness has been defense. Sometimes he physically cannot keep up, and at other times he shows no effort, but either way, his inability to cover his position has followed him throughout his career and is now the primary reason why the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the verge of being swept in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In fact, the Knicks discovered early on in the series, particularly in game one, when Jalen Brunson repeatedly attacked Harden to come from behind by 22 points and win, that taking advantage of what he couldn’t do is the key to winning.
Had a solution been found, or Harden simply tried a bit harder, the series might be tied as we speak. However, it’s not, and the blame mainly falls on the former MVP and the coaching staff.
James Harden has basically been a traffic cone for the Cavs in the ECF
It truly has been laughable watching James Harden in coverage in the Eastern Conference Finals. One would think that because he’s 36 years old and still doesn’t have a ring, Harden would be giving his 110% in every aspect of the game to make it to the promised land and win.
In addition to that, he should be going even harder, considering there are always extensive amounts of doubt on his ability to perform in the playoffs.
For some reason, though, that’s not the case. He’s literally walking on the defensive side of the ball, not helping his teammates even the slightest, and appears to be communicating below the bare minimum.
So, of course, the New York Knicks are doing what any team would do, and have continued to spam the offensive game plan of picking on Harden; they want to make it to the NBA Finals, and understandably, are going to take the easiest route to get there.
Could Harden be fatigued? Yes, he is relatively older than every other star in the series, and has physical limitations that make it tougher on him to be as good as the fans might want him to be.
On the flip side of that, there’s a solution: take longer breaks on the sidelines. It’s easier said than done, as the Cavaliers need his offense, but surely Kenny Atkinson would rather have someone who isn't giving up free points than a defensive liability like Harden.
Unfortunately, for the city of Cleveland, Atkinson has not changed a thing regarding Harden’s minutes, and that’s why they’re about to join the other 26 teams in Cancun.
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