James Harden’s second-round series against the Detroit Pistons is off to a rough start, and the criticism got louder after Game 2.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost 107-97 to the Pistons on Thursday, May 7, falling into an 0-2 hole in their Eastern Conference semifinals series. Harden finished with just 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 turnovers while shooting 3-of-13 from the field and 0-of-4 from 3-point range.
That made Harden an immediate target on social media.
“James Harden in these playoffs: Made Field Goals: 52. Turnovers: 47,” Erik Slater posted on X.
Made Field Goals: 52
Turnovers: 47
Lachard Binkley of “Binkley Hoops” wrote, “Harden has been bad in these first two 2nd round games. Only 10 points in the loss.”
Ira Winderman of the “South Florida Sun Sentinel” added, “Playoff Harden gonna Playoff Harden.”
Ryan Blackburn, who covers the Denver Nuggets, was also critical after one Harden mistake, writing, “Another completely unforced error by James Harden.”
The reaction was harsh, but the box score gave critics plenty of material. In the first two games of the series, Harden has combined for 32 points and 11 turnovers while shooting 9-of-28 from the field and 1-of-11 from 3-point range. He had 22 points and 7 turnovers in Cleveland’s 111-101 Game 1 loss, then followed it with a quieter scoring night in Game 2.
10 points 3/13 FG 0/4 3PT 4 turnovers -15
(Via @realapp )
James Harden’s Struggles Put More Pressure on Donovan Mitchell
The issue for the Cavaliers is not just that Harden had a bad shooting night. It is that Cleveland traded for him to ease the offensive burden on Donovan Mitchell in exactly this kind of series.
Mitchell did his part in Game 2, scoring 31 points on 11-of-24 shooting. Jarrett Allen added 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting, giving Cleveland two efficient scoring outlets. Harden, though, was the starter who could not punish Detroit’s defense enough as a scorer or playmaker.
That matters because the Pistons are making the series physical and crowded. Detroit has the length to throw multiple defenders at Cleveland’s guards, and Harden’s value is supposed to come from his ability to organize the offense, create efficient looks and get to the free-throw line when the game slows down.
Instead, Detroit has pushed Cleveland into uncomfortable possessions for much of the series. Before Game 2, CBS Sports noted that the Cavaliers committed 20 turnovers in Game 1, leading to 31 Detroit points. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson also emphasized the importance of 3-point shooting against a Pistons defense that packs the paint.
That puts Harden’s 0-of-4 night from deep in sharper focus. Cleveland does not need him to be the old Houston version of himself every night, but the Cavaliers do need him to force defensive respect. Through two games, Detroit has not paid a heavy enough price.
Cavs Now Face Game 3 Pressure After Harden Criticism
The Cavaliers are not out of the series, but the margin has changed quickly.
Detroit now leads 2-0, with Cade Cunningham posting 25 points and 10 assists in Game 2. Tobias Harris added 21 points, while Duncan Robinson hit 5-of-9 from 3-point range and scored 17 points. The Pistons did not need one overwhelming scoring explosion to beat Cleveland. They simply got steadier offensive production across their starting group.
For the Cavs, that is the concern. Mitchell can carry stretches. Allen can punish matchups inside. Evan Mobley can impact the game defensively even when his offense is uneven. But Harden was brought in to give Cleveland another high-level decision-maker, especially when playoff defenses load up on Mitchell.
Now, the conversation around Harden is moving in the opposite direction.
James Harden Gets Brutal Reactions After Poor Performance in Cavs-Pistons