Ever since James Harden landed in Cleveland last season, the Cavaliers have not received the version of him many fans remember. It seems like he’s been throttled down to the point of being Diet Harden. Occasionally, vintage Harden shows up and shows he can still be a difference-maker, even at age 37. That happened just last night as the Cavs took down the reigning NBA Champion New York Knicks.
In Cleveland’s 115-107 win at Madison Square Garden, James Harden scored a game-high 32 points in 33 minutes. It was a solid shooting night for Harden, making 9 of 14 field goals, including an efficient 5 of 7 from deep. All that is fine and well, but there is one area that truly defined this as a classic Harden performance. Free throws.
With a game-high nine free throws made and 11 attempts, Harden showcased exactly what the Cavs need from him in their win over New York. Sure, having Harden be a facilitator for the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen is more than fine, but they need him to pressure the defense by driving to the basket even more.
A tale of two Hardens
There is a distinct difference in the Cavaliers competitiveness when James Harden is attacking versus when he is deferring to others. Again, nothing wrong with finding an open shooter, but having someone of Harden’s caliber be actively passive is a complete waste. Flat. Uninspiring. Non-competitive. These are words to accurately describe what the Cavs look like without an attacking Harden.
The only question is whether of not this version of Harden will continue to be present or if Diet Harden returns as soon as their next game. It’s obvious the Cavs need an aggressive Harden, if they are truly going to be competitive in the east this season. There was a reason why the viability of this Cavaliers team was being questioned not long ago, with Harden being a clear focal point.
Hopefully, Cleveland’s coaching staff will encourage Harden to continue this style of play, instead of reverting back to what was clearly not working previously.
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