Cavs rely on James Harden to advance in Eastern Conference playoffs

The Cleveland Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2026 NBA playoffs, attributed significantly to James Harden's contributions. In the postseason, the Cavs displayed a 12.7 points per 100 possessions improvement with Harden on the court. He played a crucial role in overcoming both the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons, demonstrating his ability to stabilize the offense during crucial moments. However, challenges arose against the New York Knicks, where issues with isolation plays and defensive vulnerabilities were highlighted, especially in late-game situations. The team's performance shows a need for improvements in offensive chemistry moving forward.

• 10:00 AMYahoo Sports — Cavs final report card: James Harden – Cleveland doesn’t make it to conference finals without Harden