Cavs not worried as James Harden struggles for 2nd straight game
DETROIT — James Harden‘s postseason struggles continued Thursday night time.
Harden shot 3 of 13 from the sector, missed all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt and dedicated 4 turnovers within the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ 107-97 loss to the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals. It’s the second straight game on this collection and fourth time in 9 postseason video games that Harden has completed with extra turnovers than discipline objectives.
However, Donovan Mitchell He continued to precise confidence in his backcourt mate Thursday night time, repeating that he believed Harden and the Cavs would “figure it out.”
“He’s James Harden; we’re not sitting here worried,” Mitchell stated Thursday night time after snapping out of his personal scoring droop with 31 factors. “He’s going to figure this out.”
The Cavs will want him to do it in a rush. They path 2-0 within the Eastern Conference semifinals after shedding each video games in Detroit. The collection shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday.
Cleveland will want a simpler efficiency from Harden. The Cavaliers made a daring midseason transfer to amass Harden, buying and selling their 26-year-old former All-Star Darius Garland to the LA Clippers to amass the 17-year veteran to assist the group recover from the postseason hump.
But Thursday night time, Harden went scoreless within the first and fourth quarters. He was efficient from the free throw line, flattening all 4 pictures, however he could not create area on his step-back jumper or get previous a swarming Pistons protection to get into the paint constantly. After scoring eight factors within the second quarter, Harden took two pictures within the second half.
The Cavs had been outscored by 15 factors when Harden was on the ground Thursday, the worst plus/minus of any participant who appeared in Game 2.
“Just missing shots,” Harden stated. “Second half, I think I took two shots, but the ball was moving. We’re getting better shots. So, just picking and choosing my spots and figuring out what works, what doesn’t work, for the betterment of the team.”
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson took the blame for Harden’s lack of involvement within the second half. With Cleveland trailing at halftime, Atkinson stated he devised a game plan meant to push the tempo and thought Harden acquired misplaced within the course of.
“He was doing a great job getting off it, but our offense isn’t at a point now — when him and Don get off it, it should come back to them at some point,” Atkinson stated.
“We got to look at it. Can’t have our Hall of Famer taking two shots in the second half. I’ll take that one.”
And but, when Harden tried to attain down the stretch, he dedicated a vital turnover. With the Cavs down six with 33.3 seconds left within the fourth, Harden tried to drive previous Tobias Harris earlier than Ausar Thompson pressured a turnover.
Mitchell took the blame for bringing Thompson into the play and acknowledged the remainder of the Cavs can do a greater job enjoying round Harden.
“You think of just little things, spacing, trying to get him easier looks,” Mitchell stated. “We got to do a better job of running as well, whether it’s spacing or putting him in different positions. We’ll have that conversation. We’ve been having that conversation. At the end of the day, we’re going to figure it out.
“Even with the final possession when he misplaced the ball, I may have stayed within the nook with Thompson. So, simply little issues like that. We’re simply getting on the identical web page. We’ll be tremendous. We’ll determine it out.”
