Harden's Playoff Struggles and Mitchell's Defense

James Harden’s playoff stint with the Cavaliers ended in a sweep by the Knicks, marked by a sharp decline in scoring and assists—especially from beyond the arc. While his performance raised eyebrows, teammate Donovan Mitchell stepped in to defend him, drawing parallels to legends like LeBron and Jordan who faced early playoff struggles before reaching their peaks. Mitchell emphasized resilience over one-off failures, reminding fans that greatness is built over time—not defined by a single series. With Harden’s future uncertain due to his player option, the episode underscores the pressure of postseason expectations and the long arc of a basketball career. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ad99511eb20cfdc2