Mike Brown obtained loads of expertise going up towards James Harden within the playoffs as a Golden State Warriors assistant. That knowledgeable how Brown’s New York Knicks defended — and exhausted — Harden of their Recreation 1 win.
In frank feedback to the media, the Knicks head coach admitted that his gamers had been consciously going after Harden on protection within the fourth quarter as they made up a 22-point deficit to pressure time beyond regulation. The outcome was 15 factors from Jalen Brunson within the remaining interval whereas Harden shot 1-for-6 within the 115-104 Cleveland Cavaliers loss.
James Harden’s ball dominance can exhaust him
When Brown was a Warriors assistant, the crew confronted Harden’s Houston Rockets in two tight playoff collection in 2018 and 2019. Harden was at his peak then, profitable MVP in 2018, so the Warriors wanted to convey their A-game.
“We counted Harden’s dribbles,” Brown told reporters, about his outdated crew’s method. “He is dribbling 1,000 instances a sport. [Warriors forward Kevin Durant] was at 300 or proper under, so maintain choosing him up at full velocity. As a result of on the finish of collection, on the finish of video games, it will put on him down. Did it? In all probability not. However you say stuff like that to offer your guys a psychological benefit.”
The Knicks leaned on their giant group of guards to harass Harden all sport, giving 57 minutes to 4 completely different backup guards in Recreation 1. Then within the fourth quarter, Brunson repeatedly compelled the Cavaliers to change Harden onto him, and shot 7-for-9 within the quarter. For the sport, Brunson went 7-for-11 with the 36-year-old Harden defending him and 8-for-18 towards everybody else.
