The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the most disappointing teams of the 2024-25 season. After winning 64 games, they unceremoniously bowed out in the second round of the playoffs. This year, it didn’t look like things were getting better, with a slow start to the year forcing the team to pivot and make a trade for James Harden.
Since the trade, their record has taken an upswing. However, the playoffs have been a different story. After going to seven games against the Toronto Raptors, they have fallen down 0-2 instantly to the Detroit Pistons. Unfortunately, the ghosts of the former MVP’s postseason past are echoing far too loudly.
James Harden Fails to Show Up for the Cavaliers
A brutal history in the playoffs has always been an underlying theme with Harden. From his days with the Houston Rockets to the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets, history doesn’t do the three-time scoring champion any favors.
Coming over to the Cavaliers, that was a concern that most people were going to have, regardless of how enticing a core of The Beard, Donovan Mitchel, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen looked on paper.
As a result, even as he averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists on 43.5% from 3-point range in Cleveland, skepticism still prevailed. Unfortunately, through nine playoff games, those doubts have been well warranted.
While his scoring average remained essentially the same, he had a noticeable drop in efficiency, while his assists fell to 6.1 in the first round. At the same time, he became a turnover machine, averaging 5.1 turnovers in the seven-game series against Toronto.
Now, against the Pistons, things haven’t been much better. Averaging 16 points through two games, he’s averaging more turnovers than assists while shooting 32.1% from the field and 9.1% from distance.
As Underdog summed it up, “James Harden in Games 1 and 2: 9 field goals made, 11 turnovers. Harden is shooting 32.1% FG, 9.1% 3PT.” Alongside the numbers, they posted arguably the most egregious of the turnovers.
James Harden in Games 1 and 2:
9 field goals made
11 turnoversHarden is shooting 32.1% FG, 9.1% 3PT.pic.twitter.com/Nc168W5mh4
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 8, 2026
With the score at 103-97 in the favour of Detroit and less than a minute remaining on the clock, Harden coughed it up again, essentially ending any hope of a Cavaliers comeback. Inevitably, they fell down 0-2, and now face an uphill climb moving forward.
Nick Wright of First Things First joined in on the action. A vocal Harden critic, particularly for his playoff woes, he brought to light a shocking stat that puts the spotlight on the two-time assists champion’s postseason struggles.
“Today was James Harden’s 182nd career playoff game. It was the 36th time he’s had 3 or fewer made field goals. Nearly 20% of his career playoff games. It was the 46th time that he’s had as many or more turnovers than made field goals. More than 25% of his career playoff games.”
James Harden… damn bro it’s over pic.twitter.com/PbsBRksBDv
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 8, 2026
Skip Bayless, too, had a similar response. “Another playoff flameout by James Harden tonight: 3-13, 0-4 from 3, 4 turnovers. You asked for it, Cleveland.”
The problem with that statistic for the Cavaliers specifically, though, became clear from Rob Perez. “That is now the 4th time in 9 playoff games which James Harden has finished with more turnovers than field goals made.”
For Tony Jones of The Athletic, though, the issue was even more magnified now. “This isn’t James Harden playing bad. This is James Harden no longer physically capable of beating a playoff level defense. He’s still regular season good. He might no longer be playoff viable.”
James Harden might actually be washed 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/pwoJpH8H28
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) May 8, 2026
However, some believed the problems for Cleveland went beyond just Harden. Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, for instance, had a lot of slices on the blame pie. “Cleveland’s stars just aren’t good enough,” he claimed, before breaking it down for each player.
“Harden with 4 turnovers, only 3 makes and hideous defense. Mobley had ONE rebound in 36 minutes. Mitchell had 31 points but on 24 shots. Too inefficient. Jarrett Allen can’t bang with Detroit. No one on the Cavs can. That was obvious one year ago when they got ran out of the gym by the Pacers. Still no heart now. Still no championship DNA.”
It remains to be seen if the Cavaliers can bounce back in this series. In the traditional sense, the series hasn’t even begun since the home team never lost. But, against a Detroit team that had to go seven games against the Orlando Magic, it looks like the Cavaliers are no match.
Since Mitchell came to the team, they’ve tried multiple combinations but to no avail. Unless they can turn it around in a major way from here on out, it seems improbable that the Harden tenure is going to work well in Cleveland.
