LeBron James has Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, he has this, he has that, but when was the last time these individuals led a team to the playoffs themselves ? Basketball is a team sport and these two can definitely help a team win games. Without LeBron though, is another story. Kyrie had not made a playoff appearance, until LeBron came back to Cleveland. Love had never made an appearance in the playoffs either, until he arrived in Cleveland. It seems LeBron's shoulders can be comparable to boulders. The amount of weight he has been able to carry is remarkable, year in and year out.
Now, more than ever, against the Fantastic Four of the Golden State Warriors, how much weight can the King bare?
LeBron's dominance in the playoffs is remarkable.
Dating back to the 2006 NBA Playoffs, LeBron has made 12 consecutive playoff appearances. Also, since his 2011 NBA Finals appearance, LeBron has made 7 straight finals appearances. In these 12 straight playoff appearances, LeBron is currently averaging 28.3 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, and 6.8 assists per game. His current record in the playoffs is, 142 wins and 73 losses. This includes a 35.3 points per game average, as well as averaging 9.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, in the 2009 NBA Playoffs. Even with his imposing statistics, his team lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Orlando Magic.
Within his 7 consecutive NBA Finals appearances, LeBron is currently averaging 27.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. This includes a monstrous performance in the 2015 NBA Finals. LeBron nearly averaged a triple double, putting up 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. Despite his courageous effort, without Kyrie or Love, LeBron was defeated by the Golden State Warriors in 6 games.
LeBron has had a few hiccups during the postseason.
Even when he was a member of the Miami Heat, LeBron was by far the main contributor of the Big Three. Despite his many heroic performances, there has been occasions where LeBron has not played up to par. One of his notable disappointments, was against the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs.
This series lost was believed to be the deciding factor of LeBron leaving Cleveland. Leading teammates like, Antwan Jamison, Mo Williams, and a well aged Shaq against potentially four Hall of Fame candidates. Doesn't that sound familiar? Even though the Cavaliers were the number 1 seed, the matchup favored the Celtics. LeBron, during the whole 2010 NBA Playoffs, was averaging 29.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game. Also, he shot 50.2% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. The Celtics managed to derail his efficiency with their defense. Even though LeBron averaged 26.8 points per game still, his field goal percentage dropped to 44.8% and his three point percentage dropped to 26.9%.
Overall, these declined stats don't seem too bad, but it was two games that cost his stats to flop and the series. In game 5, LeBron only recorded 15 points, with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. He shot 3 of 14 from the field, including 0 of 4 from three point range. In game 6, LeBron did record a triple double. He had 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. The only thing shunning his performance was the fact that he had 9 turnovers. LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost both these games and by doing so lost the series. Everybody knows what happens next, LeBron ends up leaving during the off-season.
During the 2011 NBA Finals, against the Dallas Mavericks, LeBron seemed to be tamed by the Dallas Mavericks defense.
Still, He averaged 17.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and shot 47.8% from the field in six games. Comparing LeBron's stats to Kobe Bryant's 2000 NBA Final stats, when Shaq was a Laker, LeBron's 2011 NBA Finals performance should have been enough to win a championship. Kobe Bryant averaged 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and shot 42.5% from the field in five games. With Shaq by his side, averaging 38 points and 16.7 rebounds, they beat the Indiana Pacers. Even though LeBron did not have someone like Shaq, he had Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Sadly, their combined effort was not enough to counter LeBron's sub par play. Wade averaged 26.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in six games.
Chris Bosh averaged 18.5 points and 7.3 rebounds, but shot 41.3% from the field in six games. What if Bosh shoots a better percentage from the field, do they win the championship? Regardless, stats indicate that LeBron heavily took over as the team's main contributor after that series, carrying Bosh and Wade on his back for two rings.
LeBron faces the toughest task of his career.
Now, down 3-0 against four potential Hall of Fame candidates, can LeBron carry the Cleveland Cavaliers to do the unthinkable? A series come back? If someone can do it, it certainly can be the same team that erased a 3-1 Finals deficit last year. With game 4 near, these questions will arise and we'll only have them answered after the game is concluded.
On paper, the Cleveland Cavaliers are destined to lose, but not like this. And if they do lose, will LeBron's legacy be questioned, yet again? If the Cleveland Cavaliers managed to comeback and win, where does LeBron stand in the history of the league? A lot of questions shall be answered after game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals.
