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Cavs have a James Harden problem that they need to solve quickly
Sandy Verma | May 14, 2026 10:24 AM CST

The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are all tied up at 2-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals following the Cavs’ victory on Monday in Game 4.

So far, each team has exclusively won its home games. The Pistons were 2-0 in the series following their first two home games. When the series moved to Cleveland, the Cavs won the last two games.

At this point, both teams look strong, and it’s anyone’s guess who will win. Something worth noting is that the Cavaliers have a James Harden problem, and they need to solve it ASAP if they want to take this series.

Harden had a rough opening two games, followed by two strong games back at home. In the first two games, Harden struggled with shooting and turnovers and actually had more turnovers than field goals. Harden also shot 32 percent from the field and was just 1-of-11 from three-point range in those first two games.

James Harden discusses his rough first two games against the Pistons

But in Game 3, he bounced back. Harden scored 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including must-hit baskets in the last 90 seconds to get a 116-109 win. In Game 4, he had 24 points and 11 assists.

When Harden is on, this team wins, but when he’s not, it falls. That’s the Harden problem. The Cavs need to be able to pull off a victory even when Harden is having an off night. They can’t assume that he’ll be “on” every game in this series, and they need to find a workaround.

While having Donovan Mitchell is obviously a huge help, it wasn’t enough in those first two games. The Cavaliers need to figure out a real backup plan for when Harden isn’t performing his best.

 


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