38 Comments
User's avatar
The Professor's avatar

With respect to Harden’s legacy, Cleveland won game seven against Detroit despite him not because of him. He was also a no-show in game six. With the season on the line, he was again atrocious. Harden continues to be my favorite villain.

Fat Emmitt's avatar

I agree -- I generally cheer for the team playing Harden. Just a reflex at this point. Also very enjoyable in the playoffs.

crusty quips's avatar

No one should be surprised haha, this is what James Harden does. Regardless of his team or his coach.

wonderyearsballer's avatar

Man, I can't believe I actually feel sorry for James Harden. He was a traffic cone for about 6 straight possessions and they just left him out there all alone. Brutal humiliation. I'm guessing the thinking was that Brunsen scores in 2s so they just needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over at the other end? But how could they forget that old tired-beard fades when you make him defend? How could they *not* know that from watching the dubs back in twenty-anytime?! Gosh I hope they were't concerned for his pride. I don't know James, we're not close, but he doesn't seem all that egotistic, does he? Well maybe a little, but I suspect he would have been just fine with sitting down, sipping some water, and winning the game. Baffling.

Loon Gehrig's avatar

Two incredible games in a row, one a 50+ minute chess match, the other . . . not quite sure what that 4th quarter was

AJ's avatar

Shockingly terrible coaching from Kenny. No adjustments.

Fat Emmitt's avatar

Agree, once Brunson got going at a minimum there needed to be some Strus for Harden substitutions. Harden was getting roasted.

Bel's avatar

Both coaches in today’s game are Warriors alumni.

mDuo13's avatar

Wonder if they're reflecting on how, despite all that has changed in the league, the East is still easier

Sleepy Freud's avatar

Plus ça change…

Chadara's avatar

l'ouest est le meilleur....

Chadara's avatar

rhymes better in English though ….c’est vrai!

Sabiscrashingout.'s avatar

Cavs fans think Atkinson is conspiring against the Cavs because he's from NY. Hooo boy. This is ugly.

DubsNerd's avatar

If they are going there, why not Mitchell too?

belilaugh's avatar

Respectfully, I doubt "they" are going there. It's almost certainly just one or two people making comments, and pretty likely in jest too. But people ought to keep in mind that we can find any opinion on the internet if we are looking for it.

dubbletrubble's avatar

Also entirely possible these people are just rage baiting, which I suppose could be understood as in jest.

Alex's avatar
2hEdited

"We can find any opinion on the internet if we're looking for it."

Quite the contrary, I'd say we generally find what the shifting walls of the modern internet decide to show us at any given moment. And most of it just happens to be designed and tuned so extremes rise to the top. Dumb conspiracy theories are part of the cream of the crop of what they're selling, by tech's standards.

belilaugh's avatar

> Quite the contrary, I'd say we generally find what the shifting walls of the modern internet decide to show us at any given moment

Fair. Also depends on how one interacts with the internet imo. Passive content consumption is the standard and is definitely algorithmically driven so I agree there. Actively searching can be different than taking whatever is put in front of you though. Also if we are being specific to this conversation, we are probably talking about r/nba and/or r/warriors and while there are bots in every corner of the internet now, it's generally not flooding those sites unless a subject "breaks containment" and reaches a wider audience on Reddit. I'd also argue that tech doesn't bring extremes to the top as much as it brings capitalist extremes to the top. Other "extremes" get censored, but that's an aside.

Regardless, I'm confident that this supposed take about Atkinson conspiring against the Cavs was a joke, not something anyone believes.

Bel's avatar
13hEdited

Losers turn to conspiracy when desperate.

DubsNerd's avatar

Very prescient article, Daniel - almost like you've seen this before!

belilaugh's avatar

The spirit of the Kerr war of attrition gameplan lives on:

> Mike Brown said during his time with GSW they were counting James Harden’s dribbles per game in a playoff series and it was above 1000 so they believed he’d wear down over 7 games. Said that logic could apply to the Cavs, who’ve played now 15 games to 11 for NYK.

https://x.com/Krisplashed/status/2056941581240766955

jaxfor3's avatar

Mike Brown took the learnings to heart. I am surprised Kenny didn't. He kept with Harden even during his disastrous defensive sequence and didn't make an adjustment for what felt like half the 4th.

Kerr has been known to be ruthless in his strategy in the playoffs without regards to players feelings.

ServantOfLuna's avatar

So that's what the Knicks did during film session? Very interesting.

belilaugh's avatar

Can't believe subbing in Landry Shamet flipped a Conference Finals game

Sabiscrashingout.'s avatar

The best entertainment is watching when Cavs fans are going through it.

cannothoop's avatar

"But Brunson relentlessly attacked James Harden to spark an 18-1 run that made it a ballgame, and he tied it at 101-all on a basket with 19 seconds remaining in regulation.. . .The Knicks became just the second team to comeback from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter over the last 30 postseason. Before Tuesday's games teams were 594-1."

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48821809/knicks-rally-22-4th-steal-game-1-cavs-ot

ServantOfLuna's avatar

So I guess when in doubt, attack James Harden? Makes sense to me.

ServantOfLuna's avatar

Knicks beat the Cavs 115-104

cpt nemo's avatar

crazy - they went on a 39-8 run in the 4th Q and OT - this playoffs is seeing some major non-scoring slumps by teams - the game 7 loss by Orlando was another

NoOneEverGotFired4GuardinSteph's avatar

What a turn of events in 7 minutes. Cavs go from a blowout win that might've titled the series odds in their favor to losing this one and now I won't be surprised if they get swept lol

Nellie's avatar

Tbf, the Cavs have been there before <inset LeBron yelling at JR Smith>

The Professor's avatar

And breaking his hand

NoOneEverGotFired4GuardinSteph's avatar

Finally they sub in Strus and he immediately drains a three. Questionable to play Merrill and two bigs over him for so long

Mr Teal's avatar

He should have been in for Harden, who was awful on D and O. Atkinson blew it

Sleepy Freud's avatar

22 point lead with under 8 minutes left and Harden at the line to make it 23.

Cavs lose.

Harden is really good at this.

TwoRingTest's avatar

wow. This game, I might have to watch delayed.