The Cleveland Cavaliers have some things to figure out after blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead and ultimately suffering a 115-104 overtime loss to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. James Harden was seemingly a target of the Knicks during the fourth-quarter run, and now it appears former NBA player Channing Frye wants head coach Kenny Atkinson to bench the 17-year veteran for Game 2.

During the latest episode of the “Road Trippin’ Show” podcast, Frye explained how he believes Atkinson’s best move for Game 2 is to sit Harden. Channing Frye essentially claimed doing so could be a job-saving move for Atkinson.

“I’m going to tell you this right now, if I’m the coach and I’m in the Eastern Conference Finals and [Harden’s] playing like that? Brother, listen, I got to take some food off your plate because you’re taking food off mine,” said Frye. “If I play you, I’m getting fired. You’re getting paid. It’s you or me. What we talking about? Give me the big piece of chicken, you go sit down, till you learn how to play defense.”

You may also likeArticle continues below
Ex-player calls out Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell with honest message after Game 1
Kendrick Perkins goes scorched earth on James Harden, Cavs with ‘clean sheets’ remark
Why Magic Johnson thinks it will be hard for Cavs to come back from Game 1
Charles Barkley calls out Cavs for ‘d**n choke job’ vs. Knicks

The theme of the final quarter and overtime was the Knicks constantly attacking James Harden as a defender. While the 36-year-old guard is a prolific scorer, defense has never been his strong suit. He proved to be the chink in the Cavs’ armour in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks.

Perhaps changes could be made throughout the series. Kenny Atkinson acknowledged that he may have to switch things up defensively moving forward. We’ll see if a new defensive strategy is utilized when the Cavs take on the Knicks in Game 2 on Thursday.