Dave Portnoy slams ‘delusional’ Cavaliers after – Sports News
Dave Portnoy has weighed in on James Harden’s post-sweep feedback, and his verdict was transient and to the purpose.
Harden advised reporters he “genuinely” believed the Cleveland Cavaliers had been the higher crew regardless of being swept 4-0 by the New York Knicks within the Eastern Conference Finals.
They had been crushed by a mixed 77 factors throughout the collection, with the closest margin being an 11-point defeat. Asked whether or not the Knicks had been merely the higher crew, Harden refused to concede the purpose.
“I can’t even answer that question, honestly,” he stated. “Obviously, they dominated us 4-0, but I don’t know if I can necessarily answer that question because, genuinely, I do feel we are the better team. But series-wise didn’t show it, so tough question to answer.”
Portnoy posted the quote to X with a easy caption, “This Cavs crew is the funniest most delusional crew of all time.”
Portnoy was not the only one struggling to follow the logic. Harden’s comments echoed the pre-game framing offered by Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, who had argued on the eve of Game 4 that analytically the Cavs had been successful in the series because they had won two out of three in expected score outcomes.
That clip went viral almost immediately, and Charles Barkley used his halftime platform during the Inside the NBA broadcast to display the dictionary definition of the word “give up” beside the notation “See additionally: Cavaliers in Game 4 vs. Knicks.”
Shaquille O’Neal had a simpler line about Harden specifically. “James Harden is doing what James normally does — disappear,” O’Neal said at halftime.
Harden finished the series averaging 16 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 17.9 percent from three. In the deciding game he scored 12 points on 2-of-8 shooting with five turnovers.
He had been Cleveland’s clearest weak point throughout, with Jalen Brunson repeatedly targeting him in isolation, nowhere more consequentially than in Game 1, when Brunson kept attacking Harden’s defense while the Cavaliers nursed a 22-point lead before blowing it entirely and losing in overtime.
Despite all of that, Harden told reporters he “100%” wants to return to Cleveland next season and that he has a player option he intends to exercise. He attributed the series loss to shooting, not talent. “They made pictures — some open, some simply powerful pictures,” he said. “I do not assume we made actually any.”
Teammate Donovan Mitchell, who led Cleveland with 31 points in the Game 4 loss, offered a more contrite assessment. “I’m sorry for town of Cleveland for it to be like this in a sweep,” Mitchell stated.
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