James Harden’s Game 3 heroics to keep Cavs season alive show why he’s a winner
"Players that really know that they put the right work in, they’re ready for this stage.”
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 9: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks off the court after the game against the Detroit Pistons on May 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S.
Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images CLEVELAND — James Harden was the last player on the practice floor after the Cleveland Cavaliers ’ lone tune-up between Games 2 and 3 of their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors . Everyone else was hurrying out of the team’s facility to prepare for the flight to Canada later that afternoon. Harden picked up something while watching film from Game 2 of that series.
He noticed that they were defending him a certain way, and he wanted to get as much practice as possible to combat Toronto’s scheme. I couldn’t tell what that specific thing was, only that he was meticulously working on various ways to generate three-point looks when coming off screens on his right. All players go through individual drills with coaches to varying degrees.
That isn’t unique. The level of focus he approached it with was — especially on an off day. Every time Harden missed a shot or didn’t get the footwork how he wanted coming off the screen, he cursed.
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