Draymond Green didn't just come to the defense of James Harden after the Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 1 collapse against theNew York Knicks; he had a stern message for the star guard's teammates. Speaking onThe Draymond Green Show, Green made the case that Cleveland's defensive breakdowns,not Harden's limitations, opened the door for Jalen Brunson to take over late in a 115-104 overtime loss. That same trend continued into Cleveland's 103-93 Game 2 loss, and when you look at how the Knicks attacked each game, it's hard to argue with the Golden State Warriors forward.
"Jalen Brunson living on an island with James Harden guarding him. This isn't just a coaching issue," Harden said. "When you're trying to compete at a championship level, you must have guys that want to take on that challenge [and say] 'I'm not switching at this point in the game'..."
"… But you got guys in there that don't really want that challenge, they don't wanna fight through the screen and say 'this my matchup, I wanna stop this guy,'" Harden continued. "… It is not James Harden's job to guard Jalen Brunson 1-on-1, it's not what he's paid to do, some of those other guys who's just switching off, it is your f***ing job."
Green's argument wasn't just a passionate pushback on the current narrative surrounding the Eastern Conference Finals matchup; it's also extremely valid.
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Criticism of James Harden's defense vs. the Knicks shouldn't fall on the Cavaliers star
Arguably, the most important line from Green was the point that shutting down Brunson is "not what [Harden's] paid to do." When theCavaliers struck a deal to acquire Hardenin exchange for Darius Garland, the mindset had to be focused on adding more offensive firepower. You aren't making that trade to bolster your defense or call on Harden to defend an opposing team's best player.
The Cavaliers have several above-average defensive players, but regardless, Green is correct about not allowing Harden to get switched onto Brunson immediately consistently each game. This situation isn't the same as longtime NBA fans have seen in the past, when players like Kobe Bryant or LeBron James would take on that matchup.
Comparing the situation with Harden to one with Bryant and/or James is unrealistic, as the two are polar opposites. Bryant was one of the most intense players to ever play in the NBA, and James is a physical specimen who could guard any position on the floor, especially during his prime years.
However, Harden is an exceptional offensive weapon with elite passing ability who can score from anywhere on the floor. The Cavaliers should be actively game-planning around how to approach the rest of this series defensively, with a detailed emphasis on not asking one of their two top offensive weapons to chase one of the league's best guards, Brunson, around all night.
This article originally appeared on For The Win:James Harden criticism sparks fiery Draymond Green response — why he's not wrong