James Harden Is SELLING The Cavs!!
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The Cavaliers blew a 22-point lead with 7:30 remaining, ultimately losing in overtime after a 44-11 Knicks run.
- ❖James Harden was singled out for his historical 'loser intangibles,' including turnovers, air-ball threes, and playoff disappearances.
- ❖Kenny Atkinson was heavily criticized for not calling timeouts to disrupt the Knicks' momentum or make defensive adjustments, especially against Jalen Brunson.
- ❖Donovan Mitchell was passive in the final minutes, not touching the ball on the last regulation possession and failing to get to the free-throw line.
- ❖The Knicks effectively hunted James Harden on defense, with Jalen Brunson scoring repeatedly over him.
- ❖Cleveland's big men, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, were underutilized offensively and failed to protect the paint effectively against a smaller guard like Brunson.
- ❖The Knicks' win was seen more as an 'epic collapse' by the Cavs than an 'epic comeback' by New York.
Insights
1James Harden's Playoff 'Flameouts' Continue
Analysts asserted that James Harden consistently displays 'loser intangibles' in critical playoff moments, citing his history of turnovers, air-ball threes, and disappearing acts. In the decisive 44-11 run, Harden shot 1-of-5, 0-of-3 from three, had a turnover, and missed two crucial free throws.
Over the 44-11 run, he goes one of five, over three from three with a turnover and two missed free throws. Both of them big momentum maker-breakers. He has a long history of playoff flameouts and disappearances.
2Coaching Failures by Kenny Atkinson
Head coach Kenny Atkinson was severely criticized for his inaction during the Cavaliers' collapse. He failed to call crucial timeouts to stop the Knicks' momentum or implement defensive adjustments, particularly when Jalen Brunson was consistently isolating and scoring on James Harden.
How can Kenny Atkinson just sit over there and watch it happen again and again and again? Jalen Brunson... was much more of an epic collapse than an epic comeback. Because I'm just watching Jalen Brunson just just get the switch... he's got James Harden and he scores seven of eight baskets on James Harden. Where is Kenny Atkinson?
3Donovan Mitchell's Disappearance in Crunch Time
Despite being the team's primary scorer and a 'superstar,' Donovan Mitchell became a non-factor in the final minutes. He made his last basket with 8:49 left in regulation, went 0-for-5 with zero free throws in the crucial 44-19 run, and was a 'guilty bystander' on the final possession of regulation.
Down the stretch Donovan Mitchell in that 44 to 19 run he goes 0 for 5, 0 for 2 from 3, but more important he shoots zero free throws. The whole rest of the game. He made his last basket with left in regulation.
4Knicks' Dominance in the Paint
The Knicks won the points in the paint battle 60-38, largely due to Jalen Brunson's ability to drive and score against the Cavaliers' defense, despite Cleveland having two strong big men in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. This highlights a defensive breakdown and a failure to utilize their interior advantage.
The Knicks won points in the paint 60 to 38. And guess who was scoring the points in the paint for the Knicks? The guy who's 6 ft tall... Jalen Brunson just kept getting He's scoring points in the paint.
Lessons
- Implement immediate defensive adjustments for Game 2, specifically double-teaming Jalen Brunson aggressively, especially when he isolates James Harden, forcing other Knicks players to beat them.
- Coach Kenny Atkinson must be proactive with timeouts to disrupt opponent runs and strategize, rather than passively observing collapses.
- Donovan Mitchell needs to assert himself as the primary offensive option in crunch time, demanding the ball and actively seeking opportunities to score or get to the free-throw line.
Quotes
"He has consistently displayed in his biggest moments in playoff games, I'm sorry, I'm just going to say it's he has a loser intangibles. That's what he has."
"This was much more of an epic collapse than an epic comeback."
"If Cleveland don't get out of this series, I wouldn't be surprised if the coach ain't fired. Mhm. Just off this one game."
"You got to try to lose to do that. And they did everything to lose the game."
"Neither one of those star players, James Harden or Donovan Mitchell, had the guts to get the team together and say, 'Give me the ball. I got it.'"
Q&A
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