Can the James Harden Cavaliers win in the playoffs?

The Eastern Conference is a four-team race.

To open the season, it looked as though the conference was as wide open as it has ever been. As the regular season comes to a close, the margin has narrowed to the top four squads in the standings.

The Pistons have sat at the top of the East for the majority of the season, followed by the Celtics and Knicks, who are jockeying for the two-seed.

However, another team is rubbing elbows with these contenders: the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With a 37-22 record, Cleveland is tied with New York in the standings and just two games behind Boston for the second seed, making them a firm threat when playoff basketball rolls around.

Or does it?

It sounds silly to say, but is it possible that after the Cavaliers traded for James Harden, their championship odds became worse?

Let’s start with the positives. Since trading for Harden, the Cavs are 7-1, with their lone loss coming to a Thunder team playing without Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Jaylen Williams.

The acquisition of Harden has seemed to unlock Jarrett Allen as an offensive threat, averaging 19.5 points per game with Harden on the court, including four 20-point games.

Cleveland now has what is arguably the best offensive backcourt of any postseason team. Between Harden and Donovan Mitchell, there is no doubt about the scoring and playmaking that this duo provides.

Also, with this trade occurring in early February, it gives this Cavaliers team plenty of time to gel together before the playoffs begin. Adding a veteran like Harden will also help mask the playoff inexperience evident on this team.

Now to the negatives. While Mitchell and Harden are great offensively, their collective defense leaves much to be desired. This can become a huge issue in the playoffs when having to play the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown.

Questions also arise when trying to find a reliable scoring option outside of these two. Yes, Allen has looked good offensively as of late, but can he be trusted to be the third option on a championship team? Will Evan Mobley get fully healthy AND make an offensive surge come playoff time?

Finally, the biggest concern of all: Playoff James Harden.

Harden has yet to make an NBA finals as the first or second option on a team. In recent years, his playoff statistics have dropped sharply compared to his regular-season numbers.

To make the finals, the Cavs will likely have to play two of Boston, New York or Detroit. Those series will be tough, possibly being seven-game bouts. What do James Harden’s stats look like in game sevens?

19 PPG and 8 APG on 35/22/83 splits, with four turnovers per game.

Yeesh. These stats are fine at best, but not when you consider that he has been the number one option in almost all of these game sevens.

When looking at his most recent playoff meltdowns, including his 22 combined points in games six and seven of the 2023 ECF with Philadelphia and his 7 points on just 8 shots in game seven versus the Nuggets last year, it’s hard to imagine Harden will suddenly figure things out this season.

The Cavaliers certainly have the talent of a championship-level team. Despite that, having James Harden as a lead contributor caps your ceiling as a team, and that ceiling does not end with hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy at season’s end.

Brendan Kern is a second-year student majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email bwk5372@psu.edu