James Harden promised to "be better" after the Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 1 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Unfortunately for Cavs fans, that promise didn't translate to the court in Game 2.

The Cavaliers fell 107-97 on Thursday, digging themselves into a 2-0 series hole as the action shifts to Cleveland. All eyes—and much of the blame—are on the 36-year-old Harden, whose postseason struggles have become an all-too-familiar storyline across multiple playoff runs with different teams.

Harden finished with just 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, including an 0-for-4 mark from beyond the arc. He added six rebounds, three assists, and four turnovers—one of which effectively sealed the game for Detroit. Through two games, the numbers tell a troubling story: Harden has more total turnovers (11) than field goals made (nine) or assists (10). He's shooting a frigid 32.1% from the field and a staggering 9.1% from three-point range.

But the struggles haven't been limited to offense. Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor described Harden's defensive effort in the first half as "hilariously bad," and his reaction to contact from Pistons' Ausar Thompson drew criticism from fans and analysts alike.

Every player has an off night or two, but for Harden, this pattern is deeply rooted in his playoff history. In 182 career postseason games, this marked the 36th time he's made three or fewer field goals—nearly 20% of his playoff appearances. Even more telling: it was the 46th time he's had as many or more turnovers than made field goals, accounting for more than a quarter of his playoff career.

The Cavaliers knew this history when they acquired Harden in a trade, hoping he could channel his regular-season greatness when it matters most. So far, that hope remains unfulfilled.