Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson needs to grow a pair and bench James Harden if he’s fumbling away a game

The Cleveland Cavaliers were up by as much as 22 points in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against the New York Knicks, and it seems like they were about to steal one on the road. Midway through the quarter, the Knicks started to make their run, but it didn’t look like the Cavs were too worried, even to the point where Kenny Atkinson didn’t call a timeout.

Their lead continued to dwindle, and it almost felt like the Knicks were spamming the same play on every offensive possession. It’s obvious that they were going at James Harden, and it worked the entire quarter. By the time you looked up, the game was tied and headed into overtime.

The Cavs fell in Game 1, and you can point at the late-game execution by the Cavs, but it was more about Harden and his underwhelming defense. In those moments, Atkinson has to realize what’s happening and take Harden out. Nonetheless, he defended keeping him in following the game.

“He’s been one of our best defenders in these playoffs,” Atkinson said. “I trust him. Smart. Great hands. Didn’t think about that.”

Even though he may be one of the best defenders in the playoffs, he was not good in Game 1 against the Knicks, and it’s safe to say that he cost them the game. There could have been an argument made to keep him in the game if he was giving them something on offense, but he struggled on that side of the ball as well. He finished the game with 15 points, shot 5-for-16 from the field, and turned the ball over six times.

If Atkinson is serious about winning this series, he has to bench the players who aren’t giving him anything in that moment. Regardless of the player that Harden has been through his career and what he’s given them during the postseason, Atkinson needs to have the mindset of playing the players who are going to give him the best chance to win.

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