James Harden's Poor Performance Blamed for Cavs' Collapse Against Knicks in Eastern Conference Finals
NBA fans blame Cavs' historic collapse vs Knicks on 'burnt toast' James Harden after playoff meltdown

Image: Mail Online
The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a shocking 115-104 overtime loss to the New York Knicks after leading by 22 points. Fans criticized James Harden for his defensive failures and poor shooting, as the Knicks executed a strategy targeting him, leading to a historic comeback and celebration among Knicks supporters.
- 01The Knicks outscored the Cavaliers 44-11 after trailing by 22 points with 7:45 left in the game.
- 02New York's strategy involved attacking James Harden with pick and rolls, leading to 1.6 points per possession against him.
- 03Harden missed 7 of 8 three-point attempts and had more turnovers (six) than field goals made (five).
- 04Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson defended Harden, stating he was one of their best defenders despite the criticism.
- 05Fans expressed outrage over Atkinson's decision not to substitute Harden during critical moments.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
In a stunning turn of events, the Cleveland Cavaliers collapsed against the New York Knicks, losing 115-104 in overtime after leading by 22 points late in the game. Knicks captain Jalen Brunson admitted he had no explanation for the comeback, but Knicks coach Mike Brown revealed a strategy that targeted James Harden, leading to a series of pick and rolls that exploited his defensive weaknesses. Fans noted that the Knicks executed this strategy 21 times in the fourth quarter and overtime, resulting in a significant scoring advantage. Harden's performance was heavily criticized; he not only struggled defensively but also shot poorly, making just 31% of his field goals and hitting only 1 of 8 from beyond the arc. Despite these shortcomings, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson defended Harden, insisting he was one of the team's best defenders. The defeat sparked outrage among Cavs fans, who called for Atkinson's resignation for failing to adjust his strategy. Meanwhile, Knicks fans celebrated the historic comeback, reveling in the victory and the hope it brings for their first championship since 1973.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The Cavaliers' loss could impact team morale and strategy moving forward in the playoffs, while the Knicks' victory boosts their confidence and fan support.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you think the Cavaliers can recover from this loss in the series?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.




