On May 20, 2026, assistant coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters he still backs his defensive approach to James Harden, even after the Cleveland Cavaliers’ fourth-quarter collapse the previous night. The veteran coach said his strategy against the All-Star guard remained “the right call” and insisted that any criticism should be directed at overall execution, not Harden’s individual play.
Atkinson’s comments echoed his earlier statements this postseason, when he argued that Harden’s decision-making and shot selection were being unfairly singled out. “I’m not changing a thing,” he said, adding that the focus should stay on team defense and closing out games.
The Cavaliers squandered a double-digit lead in the final minutes, leading to renewed scrutiny of how they defended Harden down the stretch. Despite the setback, Atkinson maintained that the game plan was sound and that adjustments, if any, would be minor heading into the next matchup.
Source: New York Post
