LeBron James Is the King of Elimination Games The Cavs are down 3-2, but history suggests James is better than any player in history with his back against the wall
In the eight years since he was last eliminated from the postseason by the Celtics, James has made seven straight NBA Finals, and won three championship rings, three NBA Finals MVPs, and two regular-season MVPs.
Haters will say LeBron is merely a compiler, a rich man’s Karl Malone whose legacy is built upon awesome accumulation rather than dominance. You would be right to point out that LeBron will end up with a massive advantage in career counting stats over Jordan because of the early start to his career and Jordan’s multiple retirements.
Excellence in the most crucial circumstances has not always been part of the LeBron narrative. James left Cleveland for Miami in the summer of 2010, in the wake of a disappointing playoff flameout against the Celtics in which the favored Cavaliers blew a 2-1 series lead. Many felt that James checked out in the final three games (even though he posted 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in the series-ending Game 6). The Decision made him the NBA’s no. 1 villain. Schadenfreude ran rampant when his first Heat team was defeated by the Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. The loss represented the nadir of his professional career.
“My motivation is this ghost I’m chasing,” James told Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins in the summer of 2016. That ghost still wears twice as many rings, but James has chased down many of MJ’s records and is on track to run down many others. “[If] I can ever put myself in position to be the greatest player, that would be something extraordinary,” James also told Jenkins. It’s difficult to project if Cleveland’s season will survive past Friday’s Game 6, but history shows we can expect “something extraordinary” from James.
CP3's hamstring is unlikely to be better by game 6, it would be a minor miracle if it's ok for game 7. He is getting an MRI today.
I wouldn't even risk trying to play an injured hamstring on one day rest even if CP wants to try and gut it out. Too much risk of making it worse.
Rocket's really need to hope Mbah a Moute can recover from his own shoulder injury and come back and contribute, because he clearly still wasn't right in the first 2 games he tried to go vs Warriors, and hasn't played the last 2.
LeBron James Is the King of Elimination Games The Cavs are down 3-2, but history suggests James is better than any player in history with his back against the wall
In the eight years since he was last eliminated from the postseason by the Celtics, James has made seven straight NBA Finals, and won three championship rings, three NBA Finals MVPs, and two regular-season MVPs.
Haters will say LeBron is merely a compiler, a rich man’s Karl Malone whose legacy is built upon awesome accumulation rather than dominance. You would be right to point out that LeBron will end up with a massive advantage in career counting stats over Jordan because of the early start to his career and Jordan’s multiple retirements.
Excellence in the most crucial circumstances has not always been part of the LeBron narrative. James left Cleveland for Miami in the summer of 2010, in the wake of a disappointing playoff flameout against the Celtics in which the favored Cavaliers blew a 2-1 series lead. Many felt that James checked out in the final three games (even though he posted 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in the series-ending Game 6). The Decision made him the NBA’s no. 1 villain. Schadenfreude ran rampant when his first Heat team was defeated by the Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. The loss represented the nadir of his professional career.
“My motivation is this ghost I’m chasing,” James told Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins in the summer of 2016. That ghost still wears twice as many rings, but James has chased down many of MJ’s records and is on track to run down many others. “[If] I can ever put myself in position to be the greatest player, that would be something extraordinary,” James also told Jenkins. It’s difficult to project if Cleveland’s season will survive past Friday’s Game 6, but history shows we can expect “something extraordinary” from James.
Umm wtf is this fluffing? Like he's been in a lot of elimination games, which is the compiler argument. This guy doesn't even present some sort of awesome win % for LBJ in such games. Like, what's the point? At least make the point.
Luc was a huge factor in the rotation for the Rockets this year before he got hurt in the last game of the season, but he is obviously no CP3 replacement even at 100%. Odds were going to be heavily in the Warriors favor for game 6 regardless of this CP3 injury. Game 4 was the Warrior's first home playoff loss in the Durant era (NBA record 16 game home winning streak), so it's hard to imagine them losing again for a 3 game losing streak to end the series at home.
At this point Harden will have to have a Lebron/Jordan-esque MVP performance game 6 to even be competitive and that's also hard to imagine giving he has missed his last twenty 3 point attempts in a row.
LeBron James Is the King of Elimination Games The Cavs are down 3-2, but history suggests James is better than any player in history with his back against the wall
In the eight years since he was last eliminated from the postseason by the Celtics, James has made seven straight NBA Finals, and won three championship rings, three NBA Finals MVPs, and two regular-season MVPs.
Haters will say LeBron is merely a compiler, a rich man’s Karl Malone whose legacy is built upon awesome accumulation rather than dominance. You would be right to point out that LeBron will end up with a massive advantage in career counting stats over Jordan because of the early start to his career and Jordan’s multiple retirements.
Excellence in the most crucial circumstances has not always been part of the LeBron narrative. James left Cleveland for Miami in the summer of 2010, in the wake of a disappointing playoff flameout against the Celtics in which the favored Cavaliers blew a 2-1 series lead. Many felt that James checked out in the final three games (even though he posted 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in the series-ending Game 6). The Decision made him the NBA’s no. 1 villain. Schadenfreude ran rampant when his first Heat team was defeated by the Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. The loss represented the nadir of his professional career.
“My motivation is this ghost I’m chasing,” James told Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins in the summer of 2016. That ghost still wears twice as many rings, but James has chased down many of MJ’s records and is on track to run down many others. “[If] I can ever put myself in position to be the greatest player, that would be something extraordinary,” James also told Jenkins. It’s difficult to project if Cleveland’s season will survive past Friday’s Game 6, but history shows we can expect “something extraordinary” from James.
Umm wtf is this fluffing? Like he's been in a lot of elimination games, which is the compiler argument. This guy doesn't even present some sort of awesome win % for LBJ in such games. Like, what's the point? At least make the point.
The whole article isn't quoted in the post. Click on the link to go to the article and you'll find what you want.
On May 26 2018 00:35 karazax wrote: CP3's hamstring is unlikely to be better by game 6, it would be a minor miracle if it's ok for game 7. He is getting an MRI today.
i guess if the MRI is negative and there is no tear they can fill him with anti-inflammatories and see if he can go.
On May 26 2018 12:08 Scarecrow wrote: Incredible that James still had his legs after 45 minutes on the court. I really don't see them taking g7 though
them = Cavs? Although I agree with the hype that with Boston's homecourt powers they could win even against the 1992 Dream Team, but I think game 7 is 50/50 now. Lebron has many flaws but he has the experience and skills to win it.
tldw: - NFL pandering to fans - fake patriotism, nationalism, idiotic, to scare people - NFL players are kneeling to protest police brutality, racial inequality, and not to disrespect the flag - I'm proud to be in league where the right to free speech and peaceful protest is honored
#1.5 just a hair behind MJ. He may have a Cinderella championship but Jordan's basketball career was practically perfect. If Lebron wins another one as the leader, then he becomes undisputed #1.
On May 26 2018 23:24 BlackJack wrote: Anyone else agree that LeBron is 5 wins away from becoming the GOAT of this sport?
It will never be undisputed but it would sure help the LBJ arguments.
He also makes basically any team in the top 20 a championship threat. Here comes another summer of Lebron decisions!
Here's what I think will happen. Lebron will make one last push to win a few more championships. So Cavs will be out of the question. West teams are also out, unless Lakers with PG and maybe one other superstar (Kawhi) on top of Ball, Kuzma, etc. So that leaves us with Phily, Washington, or Toronto. or even NY. Then he will return to the Cavs for his farewell season.
EPT![[image loading]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fV_Ab1zQpGxQYsr9St8JxZ70fo8=/0x0:3000x2000/920x613/filters:focal(1247x177:1727x657)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59848701/LebronVsElimination_Getty_Ringer.0.jpg)
