James Harden’s defensive struggles against Knicks remain a recurring playoff concern
James Harden's defensive struggles against the New York Knicks have become a significant concern in the playoffs. While he remains a top offensive player, teams often exploit his defensive vulnerabilities during crucial moments. Analysts suggest that these issues may stem from age and the need to conserve energy for his offensive role.
- ▪James Harden has been a productive offensive player but struggles defensively against the Knicks.
- ▪Teams frequently target Harden in switches and isolation plays during high-pressure games.
- ▪The Knicks' offensive strategy creates matchup problems for Harden, particularly with players like Jalen Brunson.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/james-harden-defensive-struggles-against-020814422.html","headline":"James Harden’s defensive struggles against Knicks remain a recurring playoff concern","datePublished":"2026-05-21T02:08:14.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-21T02:08:14.000Z","keywords":["James Harden","New York Knicks","New York","Jalen Brunson"],"description":"For much of his career, James Harden has been one of the NBA’s most productive offensive players, capable of taking over games through elite scoring and...","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Yahoo…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Yahoo Sports.