Postseason Struggles for Key Players
James Harden continues to bear the brunt of postseason criticism, struggling with a shooting percentage below 36% and making just under 27% of his three-point attempts. He’s also averaging more turnovers than assists in the Eastern Conference Finals, with six turnovers and five assists in the first two games.
On the other side, Donovan Mitchell embodies a franchise that hasn’t quite reached its expected potential. After a disappointing Game 1, where he managed only one successful shot in the final 17 minutes, he attempted to bounce back with a mere seven points in the first half of Game 2.
Mitchell’s underwhelming performance left the Cavaliers facing a double-digit deficit in the second half. When looking at his stats from the two games at Madison Square Garden, it’s clear he also had more turnovers (five) than assists (four).
Following a tough 109-93 defeat, the Cavaliers are back in Cleveland, hoping to revitalize their offense against a Knicks team that has excelled defensively, limiting other teams to fewer than 100 points multiple times in this postseason.
Over their last 65 minutes of play, beginning with the fourth quarter of Game 1, the Knicks have only allowed 116 points while containing the Cavaliers to a 39% shooting average. In Game 2, Cleveland struggled even more, hitting just 26% of their shots.
During a nine-game winning streak, the Knicks allowed an average of 98.8 points. Their defensive effort has led to the second-best NET rating in the current postseason, trailing only behind Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs.
Knicks coach Mike Brown commended his team’s defensive efforts, noting, “Our defense was pretty good, especially with the talent that they have.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining a varied approach and praised his players for their attention to detail.
Aside from the main stars, others are struggling as well. Sam Merrill’s shooting hasn’t been ideal, hitting just 3 of 15 from the arc. Max Strus, who previously played a pivotal role in eliminating the Knicks in 2023, has scored only a total of 13 points. Dennis Schroder, who had a decent performance against the Knicks last season, only managed seven points from his 14 shots.
Even strong players like Cleveland’s bigs face limits. OG Anunoby effectively kept Jarrett Allen below his usual scoring average in both games. However, Evan Mobley, who made his presence felt by scoring 14 points in the first half of Game 2, didn’t manage to hit the scoresheet in the second half, not even attempting a single shot.
At one point, with 10 minutes and 37 seconds left in the third quarter, the game was tied. The Knicks then surged ahead with an impressive 18-0 run, leaving the Cavaliers scoreless for over five and a half minutes.
Jalen Brunson reflected on the shift in momentum, stating, “He was able to stop, run and make easy baskets. It’s definitely a credit to our offense and defense for being able to play in transition.”
