2026 EC FINALS: (3) New York Knickerbockers Vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers

Fat boy went absolutely in. He ain’t lying though. WOOF!!!

 

If it was the Rockets, Ime would be roasted here on CF.

 

Unbiasedly, the cavs should win this series. The refs stepped in tonight.

 

Everyone raving last round that Harden brought Donovan to the ECF. Well James is a lot like Bill Cosby from that one episode:

"I brought you into this world, and imma take you out"

"I brought you to the ECF and imma take you out"

Harden should not be know for this many playoff turnovers. Don't know why he shrinks so much the brighter the lights get. His first Finals run in OKC really was the preview. Great until the biggest stage.

 

Kenny and Harden should own that loss, typical of the former. Glad he's not a Rocket anymore. If this guy had even an ounce more competitiveness with putting in more work to get in better shape, his legacy would've been way different.

OH hell no, the refs were not doing the Knicks any favors. Not giving them a time-out at the end of regulation, some clear pushes in the back, among others. In OT they didn't help Cavs, sure, but at that point the Knicks were busting them in the head and I like refs to swallow their whistles more when it's play-offs time. These games could serve to have more physicality instead of whining for calls.

 

The Cavs blowing a 22 pt lead in one
Quarter is because of the refs?

 

Playoff James Frauden strikes again. No effort on D and atrocious offense. I've never seen a player go from all world to absolute choker in big time moments. Glad we denied him his reunion with us.

 

Hahahahahahahahahahaha

Rent Free

Rocket River

 

Refs weren't calling anything for the Cavs. They gave the Knicks an extra possession off a missed FT that led to a 3 during that run. Strus was knocked OOB going for an offensive rebound but called for the looseball foul on the very next possession while trying to secure the defensive rebound. Knicks were hacking on plenty of Cavs drives that led to turnovers and fast break points. There was some good home cooking, but that's Scott Foster.

Harden did play like crap down the stretch. He couldn't hit a bucket. Forcing him on an island against a faster guard was some coaching terrorism. Harden never had quick feet against perimeter guards in his prime, and to ask 36-year old Harden to be the on-ball defender on the perimeter against prime Brunson is mind-blowingly dumb. He's still the Cavs's best playmaker until things get too tight at the end. Either the lights get too bright or he's gassed at the end, likely both. Some of the Cavs offense during the first half when Harden was on the bench was awful. Poor passing, players getting into each other's spaces, so many turnovers.

To blame the loss on Harden is just the haters having their day. Jarrett Allen missed 2 FTs during that run. He's been mostly a letdown this whole playoffs. Mobley has been Jabari levels of production, mostly okay but nothing great. Mitchell had a good game but also shrunk during the end. Why did Keon Ellis get minutes over Tyson this game? Ellis was such a negative on the court. Atkinson not calling any timeouts, even after the 9-0 run, just dumb. Was he saving them for Game 2?

 

Cope

 

So much “chatter”

 

Oh please, Scott Foster and home cooking? Where have you been? He's usually a heavy favorite for the road team. And now the refs weren't calling anything for the Cavs either? The officiating was decent, they let some stuff go on both sides, but definitely did not help the Knicks all that much during the comeback. In OT, as I said, they weren't doing the Cavs any favors, but I don't mind the refs letting stuff go more when things get tight. And Cavs got tired, stopped playing, and that's when the whistle goes against you. Refs have always favored the aggressive teams, because they make more decisive moves and it's easier for other teams to give into the fatigue. So nothing like a conspiracy as you seem to claim here.

 

Harden “wearing down” does make more sense to me than choking. When he was in Houston, and doing the same thing, he wasn’t flailing around, taking wild shots, making foolish mistakes over and over. He just seemed to power down. Like his battery was taken out. Maybe it’s poor diet, conditioning, etc. But in crunch time, his body says:



That dog in him says:

 

I hope both teams win.