The Knicks Will Attack Harden... Can the Cavs Survive It?
The Knicks Will Attack Harden... Can the Cavs Survive It?  
Podcast: The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima
Published On: Tue May 19 2026
Description: Ken and Lima dig into the X's and O's of the Eastern Conference Finals matchup, landing on Evan Mobley as the series-defining piece — his ability to defend Karl-Anthony Towns at the top of the key while also handling the ball in pick-and-roll situations could unlock the entire Cavs offense in ways Detroit never saw. The Harden conversation cuts both ways — he held his own defensively against Detroit's stationary wings, but the Knicks' constant cutting and movement without the ball is a different animal, and Jalen Brunson isolating on Harden could get uncomfortable fast. Ken also reflects on the broader arc of the Harden trade itself, agreeing with Howard Beck's take that the referendum on James Harden is over — he's not winning a title as the number one guy, but as the piece that gets Donovan Mitchell into better situations and opens the floor for Mobley, he's been exactly what this team needed.