Kenny Atkinson doubles down on his James Harden defense after Cavaliers’ meltdown
Kenny Atkinson continues to support James Harden following the Cavaliers' loss to the Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Despite criticism of Harden's defense, Atkinson emphasizes the importance of team defense in the Cavaliers' struggles. He acknowledges Harden's inconsistent postseason performance but believes in his contributions to the team's success.
- ▪Kenny Atkinson defended James Harden's performance despite the Cavaliers' loss to the Knicks.
- ▪Harden struggled defensively against Jalen Brunson, who scored 17 points in the final moments of the game.
- ▪Atkinson pointed out that the team's overall defense was a significant factor in the loss, not just Harden's individual performance.
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NBA Kenny Atkinson doubles down on his James Harden defense after Cavaliers’ meltdown By Zach Braziller Published May 20, 2026, 10:19 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google A day later, Kenny Atkinson remained firmly in James Harden’s corner. No second-guessing his decision to stick with the veteran despite his issues defending Jalen Brunson in the Knicks’ wild comeback from 22 points down to win the opener of the Eastern Conference finals. “One thing about James: I’ll just defend him,” the Cavaliers coach said Wednesday. “He’s a good isolation defender, always has been. He’s super smart.
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