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Ranking each of LeBron James’ 8 NBA Finals appearances



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Competing against Warriors is fun for LeBron James

Courtesy of NBA TV, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James talks about facing the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Steven Loung@loung_sMay 31, 2018, 11:48 AM
On Thursday night LeBron James will begin his eighth straight NBA Finals appearance, a stunning feat, but perhaps one that overshadows the fact that these 2018 Finals will also be the 33-year-old’s ninth appearance in the NBA’s championship series.
Through his eight previous Finals series, James has led the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat to four trips there each, sporting a 3-5 record.

Given the sheer number of Finals appearances James has at this point – his nine is only matched and surpassed by six players in NBA history – it’s fair to say that not all of those trips can be measured equally.
So, with that said, here’s a look at James’ eight NBA Finals, in terms of how he performed individually, ranked.
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8) 2011
Stats: 17.8 PPG/7.2 RPG/6.8 APG/47.8 FG%/32.1 3P%
Series outcome: Miami loses to Dallas 4-2

In the first season after James shockingly announced he was departing from Cleveland to Miami on national television to team up with buddies Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, he managed to successfully reach the NBA Finals, beginning this remarkable run of eight straight.
However, as James has found out, more often than not making a Finals and actually winning it are completely different things and this 2011 series is a good example of that.
As you can see from his statistical line, this wasn’t James’ best series. Then-Dallas Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey devised a defensive scheme predicated on mixing and matching zone looks to flummox James and it worked to excellent effect, a lesson James took to heart for the rest of his career.



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Inside the Huddle with Dwane Casey
7) 2007
Stats: 22.0 PPG/7.0 RPG/6.8 APG/35.6 FG%/20.0 3P%
Series outcome: Cleveland loses to San Antonio 4-0
In 2007 a 22-year-old James in just his fourth NBA season led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals with a supporting cast that included such standout names as Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskus and Anderson Varejao.

Facing the mighty San Antonio Spurs with the trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker all at the height of their basketball abilities, there wasn’t much expectation for James and the Cavaliers to do much, so getting swept wasn’t much of a surprise.
Still, just the fact that James, at that age and with that team, was able to make the Finals – dethroning a powerful Detroit Pistons team in the process – was a proud accomplishment.

www.basketball-reference.com

2007 NBA Finals - Cavaliers vs. Spurs | Basketball-Reference.com

Summary and statistics for the 2007 NBA Finals - Cavaliers vs. Spurs
www.basketball-reference.com www.basketball-reference.com

6) 2014
Stats: 28.2 PPG/7.8 RPG/4.0 APG/57.1 FG%/51.9 3P%
Series outcome: Miami loses to San Antonio 4-1
After winning two straight NBA titles with the Heat, James was looking for a three-peat against the opponent he managed to vanquish in the Finals the year before.
Alas, it wasn’t to be. Despite apparently strong numbers from James, the Spurs managed to effectively neutralize his passing game, taking his teammates out of the equation and cruise for a five-game series victory.
Additionally, in Game 1 of the series, James suffered a bout of dehydration and started cramping limiting him to just five minutes in the fourth quarter of that game and dispelling his aura of invincibility in the process.
5) 2017
Stats: 33.6 PPG/12.0 RPG/10.0 APG/56.4 FG%/38.7 3P%
Series outcome: Cleveland loses to Golden State 4-1
After having fulfilled his promise to Cleveland in 2016, last year’s Finals almost felt like it was going to be an expected letdown for James and the Cavaliers.

With the Golden State Warriors out for revenge, with Kevin Durant in the fold this time around, there was nothing the Cavaliers could do – not even an outrageous James triple-double stat line – to prevent this inevitable Dubs championship.
4) 2013
Stats: 25.3 PPG/10.9 RPG/7.0 APG/44.7 FG%/35.3 3P%
Series outcome: Miami beats San Antonio 4-3
Yes, Ray Allen did hit that huge shot in Game 6 to send the game into overtime, paving the way to a miracle force of Game 7. But that shouldn’t take away from the fact that James and the Heat got it done in Game 7, especially when you consider the fact James balled out with the championship on the line for 37 points and 12 rebounds.
Critics will always find something to nitpick at with James, but that still doesn’t change the reality that James managed to beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals.
3) 2012
Stats: 28.6 PPG/10.2 RPG/7.4 APG/47.8 FG%/18.8 3P%
Series outcome: Miami beats Oklahoma City 4-1
After being humbled the year before by the Mavericks, James and the Heat weren’t about to make the same mistakes twice.
In James’ path was an Oklahoma City Thunder team that was heavy on star power – Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka were all on that 2011-12 Thunder squad – but light on experience, and the more veteran Heat took full advantage of that.
Despite shooting poorly from deep, James dominated this series. He had a rough start as OKC managed to hold him to just one field goal in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter in Game 1, but after that he couldn’t be contained as his combination of scoring and passing was just too much for the Thunder to deal with. Miami would go on to win four straight for James’ first-ever NBA title.

2) 2015
Stats: 35.8 PPG/13.3 RPG/8.8 APG/39.8 FG%/31.0 3P%
Series outcome: Cleveland loses to Golden State 4-2
I know what you must be thinking of here: How can a series loss rank higher than a couple of titles?
Normally, this would be an impossibility, but given the circumstances James faced in the 2015 Finals, as well as that monster stat line, this slides in easily at No. 2.
With James’ fellow Cavaliers co-stars Kevin Love (the entire series) and Kyrie Irving (all but Game 1) out with injury, James took up the slack to all but win two games against a 67-win Warriors squad virtually by himself.
This feat from James not only earned him even more respect and admiration from around the league, but also left many wondering, “What if Love and Irving were healthy?”
1) 2016
Stats: 29.7 PPG/11.3 RPG/8.9 APG/49.4 FG%/37.1 3P%
Series outcome: Cleveland beats Golden State 4-3
So, what if Love and Irving were healthy?
That was answered in 2016, in what is without question the defining moment of James’ illustrious career.

When James left Miami in the summer of 2014 to return to Cleveland he made a promise to his childhood team that he would bring a championship to it, and he delivered with a seven-game effort for the ages.
And while Irving was absolutely vital to the success of this series with his clutch shot-making – Love didn’t actually do too much, for those wondering – and there’s an argument for the impact Draymond Green’s suspension had, this series was all about James.
Cleveland managed to crawl back from a 1-3 deficit against a Warriors club that set an NBA-record 73 wins in the regular season thanks to James and the 36.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists he averaged during the last three games in the series, in addition to “The Block” in Game 7 with less than two minutes to play in a tie game.
If James never wins another NBA title, it shouldn’t matter a single bit as far as his legacy goes because of this 2016 championship run.
 
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The Greatest Negro League Team Ever? The Greatest Team Ever?


Crawfords.jpg



If you’re like me, you may need a short respite from politics and viruses. So, lets talk a bit of baseball, which I dearly miss. Its also an excuse to post old photographs. Photos from the 1930’s — 1940’s have always fascinated me.

African Americans have been playing baseball since the start. Post Civil War numerous amateur leagues popped up all over the country. By the early 1920’s black baseball became truly organized. A number of leagues existed form the 20’s into the ‘40’s, that were considered the highest caliber of black baseball. Most of these leagues used ‘Negro’ or ‘Colored’ in their names. Earlier, many teams included Giant in their name (Chicago Giants, Chicago Union Giants). Thus, if you saw a advertisement for an upcoming game for the Chicago Giants, you knew it was a black team.

Prior to integration black baseball was centered in the northeast (New York and Philadelphia in particular) and the upper Midwest (Chicago, Detroit) After integration most of the teams were centered in the south.

During each era, black teams reflected the same makeup as their white counterparts. There were doctors, lawyers and college men. There were men from farms, coal country and big cities. There were criminals, gamblers and hard drinking men.

What was the greatest baseball team ever? A question that fans love to debate. The answer varies from fan to fan. There are many contenders for this title. A number of Yankee teams make the list. There are some Dodger teams as well. Cardinals fans have their picks as well. You can’t forget some of those Cubs teams either. Or Philadelphia A’s or….

You can apply any number of mathematical equations and formulas to answer this question for Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, hardcore fans of the game cannot do the same for Negro League teams. Statistical records are incomplete. Schedules were erratic and a team might play 200 games a season, many of them non-league games against teams of questionable talent. Sadly, we will never have a clear picture of the black leagues. The same is true for the independent leagues that existed in the teens, 20’s and 30’s, before they were eventually swallowed up by the Majors. There were a number of leagues, usually west of the Mississippi, that played great baseball, produced great players, created regional stars and provided entertainment to many in regions that wouldn’t see Major League baseball for decades.

Therefore, we’re left with incomplete statistics, eyewitness reports and anecdotal evidence when discussing Negro League players. This makes a true analysis tricky. Veterans of the Negro Leagues, like their white counterparts, looked at their former teammates through nostalgic eyes, lionizing players that may have been good or merely average. So, it may be unwise to rely solely on the statements of former teammates.
My view on eyewitness accounts and anecdotal evidence is this: Sometimes there is simply too much evidence to ignore. When black players, white players, black managers and white managers as well as umpires praise a player’s talent, it can’t be ignored. Many of these eyewitnesses point to the 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords as a truly great team.

The Pittsburgh Crawfords were a team organized and owned by businessman Gus Greenlee. The team was a founding member of the second incarnation of the Negro National League (1933-1938).

Greenlee was a shrewd businessman. One of the problems with black baseball as a whole was their inability, or unwillingness, to enforce contracts. Players would jump from team to team multiple times in a season if the price was right, without penalty. Teams might join a league halfway through a season. Other teams might go broke halfway through the season. Administratively, black baseball in the 20’s and 30’s was a mess. This mess did not diminish the quality of play on the diamond. However, the lack of a centralized authority that could enforce the rules allowed some owners to create talent-rich teams almost overnight. This is what Gus Greenlee did when he founded the Crawfords.
The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords dominated the Negro National League. The team consisted of the following:

Hall of Famer Oscar Charleston — 1B, CF
OC2.jpg

Oscar Charleston
Although past his prime by 1935, Charleston is considered by many to be the greatest Negro League player and one of the greatest players ever. I have written about Charleston previously so I won’t repeat that in full, but a sample:


I think Charleston, in 1935, would be similar to Mike Trout just past his prime. Not at his peak but a formidable threat. Charleston was a smart and fierce competitor and was the team’s player-manager.
If that wasn’t enough, the catcher for the ‘35 Crawfords was probably the best-known name from black baseball:

Josh Gibson — C
This Hall of Fame catcher was best known for his legendary homerun power. His defensive skills are debated but he had a powerful arm. Gibson was twenty-four in 1935 so unlike Charleston, Gibson was in his prime.
Gibson would be like having Babe Ruth as your catcher. The average probably wasn’t quite as high as Ruth’s and the on-base percentage was not as high, but Gibson was one of the biggest offensive threats in baseball, black or white.
Gibson.jpg

Josh Gibson
James “Cool Papa” Bell — CF
Bell.jpg

Cool Papa Bell
Bell was the speed merchant of the league. If Gibson’s power was legendary, Bell was considered the fastest player in the league for more than a decade. His defense was solid, not extraordinary. He played a shallow centerfield which allowed him to prevent many bloop singles while being fast enough to get to the deeper hits. Bell also had some pop in his bat and hit for a high average. Probably a lot like Willie McGee without the brilliant defense, or Rickey Henderson. Bell is another Hall of Famer. They used to say that Bell was so fast that he could flip the light switch and be in bed before the room got dark.

James “Judy” Johnson — 3B
Johnson was a slick fielding, light hitting third baseman in an era where third base was more of a defensive position. He hit for a good average, had good speed, could bunt, hit behind the runner or coax a walk. A classic number 2 hitter. A smart, friendly player and a Hall of Fame inductee. Probably had the same skills as Willie Randolph or Tommy Herr. Known as a gentleman and a class act.
JudyJohnson.jpg

Judy Johnson
John “Jimmy” Crutchfield — OF
Crutchfield was a short, slim outfielder that could play any outfield position. He hit for a good average and was a good fielder. Crutchfield was basically a singles hitter. Probably like a Brett Butler type player, Perhaps Mickey Rivers with a better arm. Crutchfield gave many interviews after his career was over and helped to preserve much of the history of the league.

Sam Bankhead — LF
An all-around five-tool player with one of the strongest arms in the league. Bankhead hit with moderate power, could swipe a few bases and was an outstanding defensive player. When Josh Gibson died at a young age Bankhead became a surrogate father to his son, Joshua Jr. Bankhead was shot dead during an argument with a “friend.” The description of his skills remind me of Montreal Expos era Andre Dawson.

Leroy Matlock — LHP
One of the better lefties of the decade. Matlock was known for having a good fastball, slider, curve, screwball and changeup. Also known as a good hitting pitcher with some speed on the base paths.

Sam Streeter — LHP
Another southpaw. Streeter was past his prime by the time he came to Pittsburgh. He had been one of the best pitchers of the ‘20’s. Still, he was an effective and crafty veteran. Known to throw a spitball from time to time.

What Could Have Been
Two players jumped from the Crawfords before the 1935 season began. If they had remained with the team I could be convinced that the 1935 Crawford’s were one of the top five teams of all time, black or white. Maybe the best single-season team ever.

Rap Dixon — RF
Another five tool player. Dixon, I imagine, would be a Dave Winfield type. He hit for power, had speed, hit for average, had a great glove and the best throwing arm of the decade. Legend has it that Dixon once threw a ball from home plate over the right field fence in Yankee Stadium during an exhibition game.

Satchel Paige — RHP
The pitcher of the Negro Leagues. Period. The standard against which other pitchers were judged. ‘Nuff said.
Ah, what might have been.
I would post their existing stats but they are so incomplete (cobbled together through whatever box scores that could be found) as to be useless.
Despite the lack of statistical records there are a number of very good books on this area of the game. Too many to list. Only the Ball was White, The Biographical Encyclopedia of Negro League Baseball and Shades of Glory are just three of those books that I recommend. All available through Amazon.

There were two main differences between the MLB teams of the era and the Negro League teams of the era.
Major League Baseball teams had larger rosters. This gave them a much stronger bench. If a key player on a black team was injured, it would hurt them team more than if a key player on, say the Yankees, went down.

Since Negro League teams had smaller rosters, their players were more versatile. Many players could play two or three positions and play them well.

The historical consensus is that when white teams met black teams in exhibition play (and they often did), it was a coin-toss. Black all-star teams had a .500 record against white all-star teams.

What I’d give to see just one game with these players. I’ve looked for film footage but have come up empty for the 20’s and 30’s. If you know of any video of these leagues from that era, let me know.


This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

www.dailykos.com

The Greatest Negro League Team Ever? The Greatest Team Ever?

If you’re like me, you may need a short respite from politics and viruses. So, lets talk a bit of baseball, which I dearly miss. Its also an excuse to post old photographs. Photos from the 1930’s — 1940’s have always fascinated me. African Americans...
www.dailykos.com
 

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