James Harden has spent years under scrutiny for whether his regular-season reputation consistently carries deep into the playoffs.
This postseason did not change that narrative, as Cleveland’s run ended with a 4-0 Eastern Conference Finals sweep by the Knicks.
The final act was a 130-93 defeat, where Harden’s quiet box score and post-game comments kept the criticism firmly on him.
James Harden records five turnovers and two buckets in Knicks defeat
Harden finished Game 4 with 12 points, four rebounds and two assists, but the scoring total masked another inefficient night.
Eight points came at the free-throw line. He made both two-point attempts, but missed all six of his shots from three-point range.
He also committed five turnovers while making only two field goals. According to StatMuse, it was his sixth game this playoffs with more turnovers than buckets.
For a player brought in to help Cleveland manage high-pressure possessions, that number made for a poor ending to an underwhelming series.
James Harden’s reaction drew more criticism after sweep
Harden then faced more criticism for his post-match reaction, after suggesting Cleveland still had reasons to believe they were better than New York.
