Criticism pours in on Harden and the Cavs: “They disappeared, they gave up”
James Harden vanished in Game 4 and finished the Eastern Conference Finals averaging just 15 points and 3 assists: NBA analysts didn’t hold back with their criticism
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals hoping to defend home court and avoid a stunning sweep.
Instead, everything went as badly as possible. The crushing 130-93 home loss to the New York Knicks officially ended Cleveland’s postseason in the most embarrassing fashion imaginable.
The Cavaliers looked out of sync from the opening minutes and, after New York’s strong first quarter, never managed to respond.
While Donovan Mitchell tried to keep his team alive with 31 points, four rebounds and an efficient 9-for-18 shooting night, the rest of the supporting cast completely disappeared.
Evan Mobley finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, but the performance that drew the most attention was James Harden’s struggle, as he managed just 12 points, four rebounds and two assists. What was expected to be a competitive series instead turned into a New York monologue, exposing the Cavs to harsh criticism from the media and NBA legends alike.
During the postgame edition of Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley didn’t hold back:
For everyone watching at home, if you want to understand the meaning of the word ‘quit,’ the Cavaliers are the definition
Charles Barkley
Shaquille O’Neal echoed the same sentiment and piled on:
James Harden is doing what he usually does… disappear
Shaquille O’Neal
The numbers, meanwhile, do little to challenge the critics’ argument. Earlier in the playoffs, Harden was averaging 19.6 points per game, but his production completely fell apart during the Conference Finals.
Beyond his familiar defensive lapses, the former MVP struggled badly on offense as well. Across four games against the Knicks, he committed 17 total turnovers – including five in Game 4 – while his averages dropped to 15.5 points and a disappointing 3.0 assists per game.
The harshest number from his elimination-game performance remains his 0-for-6 from three-point range, a symbol of a star fading during the most important stretch of the season. It also came after he avoided a more honest assessment in his postgame comments, claiming the Cavs were still the better team in the series.
Cleveland now heads into an offseason full of questions. While Mitchell’s leadership isn’t being questioned, the front office will have to take a long, hard look at the true value of the team’s supporting cast.