James Harden Has to Close Out 2nd Round Series to Change ‘Choker’ Narrative, Say Analysts

James Harden and his Cleveland Cavaliers will look to end the semi-final series at home against the Detroit Pistons.

James Harden Has to Close Out 2nd Round Series to Change ‘Choker’ Narrative, Say Analysts

James Harden under pressure to seal semi-finals (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • James Harden has not reached an NBA Finals despite 17 postseason appearances.
  • Analysts emphasize the importance of his performance in Game 6 to change his 'choker' narrative.
  • Harden's Cleveland Cavaliers have momentum heading into Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons.

James Harden has had the opportunity to take part in the postseason for 17 straight seasons. Despite all those chances, the superstar guard does not have an NBA Finals appearance to his name, particularly when he was the leader.

He did once reach the Finals, where he and his Oklahoma City Thunder lost to LeBron James‘ Miami Heat. At the time, he was just a bench player, which is why he chose to leave the following season.

Once he joined the Houston Rockets, he made them into perennial playoff contenders, but failed to get over the Conference Finals hump twice. One was with Hall of Famer Dwight Howard, and the other with future Hall of Famer Chris Paul.

After bouncing around on quite a few teams and failed postseason runs, the Arizona State alum has a chance to end all doubts about his legacy.

He’s one of the greatest scorers that we have ever seen in the game of basketball… No one ever doubted that James Harden couldn’t win you a few playoff games. It’s all about James Harden completing the mission and closing out the series.

Kendrick Perkins said

The NBA champion added on The Pat McAfee Show that his former teammate’s skills have never been doubted. But the mindset to finish a series has always left James Harden’s fans wanting more.

Perkins appreciated the 36-year-old’s performances in Game 5, but warned that it is not enough, especially against the Detroit Pistons.

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Stephen A. Smith reveals James Harden’s Game 6 struggles

This was the first time Kendrick Perkins discussed James Harden on ESPN. A while earlier, he and Stephen A. Smith discussed what the former league MVP needs to do to eventually surpass the ‘choker’ narrative.

The issue with James Harden and his flaws in the postseason ain’t games one through five. It’s games six and seven. Brother, the world is watching. In the last five Game 6s that he has been on the basketball court, his teams are one and four… The only thing that’s been consistent, is that he’s been a no-show… You want to erase it, this is the game to do it.

Stephen A. Smith said

The 58-year-old harped on Perkins’ tone where he made it clear that there is no doubt about the 11-time All-Star’s ability to shoot the ball.

But where it matters is his history of ‘choking’ when the pressure is on him. Smith is happy that Harden delivered in Game 5 with a brilliant 30-point performance to help the Cleveland Cavaliers take the series lead.

However, he reminded the Cavs guard that now that Game 6 is back in Cleveland, all eyes will be on him to deliver. He might have shed accountability in the past, but this is the game that could define his legacy.

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James Harden and Cavs will have momentum in Game 6

It is unclear whether James Harden will listen to these arguments, as superstar players generally stay away from the news and social media during the playoffs.

James Harden and Donovan Mitchell
James Harden and Donovan Mitchell (Image via NBA/X)

But either way, this will be the best chance for the three-time Scoring Champion to use the momentum he and his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates built in Game 5.

After their opening two losses, the team has flipped the script on the Detroit Pistons, suffocating their leading players and turning opportunities into scoring runs.

The Pistons might argue that officials might have given them a repeat of last season’s controversial ruling that saw them exit the playoffs.

They have a chance to rectify it all in Game 6, but it will be Harden and his team who will have the edge. That momentum, and with their fans behind them, this game is theirs to lose.

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