James Harden could turn the tide on his postseason reputation in Game 6 vs Detroit

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James Harden could turn the tide on his postseason reputation in Game 6 vs Detroit originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

James Harden is one of this generation's best players. Unfortunately, he has not been as successful as his peers who are standing out in the Playoffs. This has led to a lot of people criticizing Harden, which has hurt his postseason reputation.

Thankfully, Harden continues to keep proving that he is a top player for the Cleveland Cavaliers today. In Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons, Harden had a 30-point night, and he was the primary reason behind the Cavs' taking a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6.

James Harden urged to redeem his Playoff performances of the past​

For the longest time, Harden has not been the most successful player in the NBA Playoffs. He has had some tremendous runs, as he was the star for the Houston Rockets in their runs to the Western Conference Finals.

Unfortunately, he struggled in the other stints like the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Brooklyn Nets. Now, he is playing much better, which could redeem his reputation.

MORE: Kenny Atkinson speaks about how James Harden is playing differently in the Playoffs

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith has been one of the most vocal critics of Harden for the past few years. Despite that, he feels Harden is playing well this postseason, and Smith believes Harden can change his reputation in Game 6.

"This is a brother that averages over 20 shots a game for the vast majority of his illustrious career, and then a Game 6 or 7 comes, and suddenly he’s not even attempting shots. It’s like the basketball rim is Freddy Krueger or Jason from Friday the 13th," Smith said on his show.

"You can’t have that happen. You can’t. This is it. This is what it’s all about. This is what you've got to stand on right now."

Smith brings up some good points because there have been times when Harden truly struggled. Now, he has a chance to redeem himself by leading the Cavaliers to their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2018.

More NBA news:​

• How the Cavs' ownership is helping the fans watch the team in the Playoffs
• Donovan Mitchell speaks about the three key players who have impacted the Cavs' postseason run
• How stomach bugs could massively shift the Cavaliers' Playoff run
• Evan Mobley could be the primary trade piece for a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
• Dean Wade is playing heavy minutes, but his impact is not being felt

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