2015 NBA Finals Could Be LeBron James’ Signature Moment
Trace back the lineage of every true legend in NBA history. From Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and everyone before them, every all-time great has a signature moment.
Bryant has an 81-point scoring outburst and Jordan has the iconic game-winner in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Bird stole the ball in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals and Johnson started at center for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980 NBA Finals.
The 2015 NBA Finals could be LeBron James‘ signature moment.
James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will host the heavily-favored Golden State Warriors in Game 3. The series is currently tied at 1-1 after James’ extraordinary efforts and Matthew Dellavedova‘s defense propelled Cleveland to a Game 2 victory on the road.
With All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love both out for the season, James’ otherworldly production will need to remain consistent for Cleveland to have any chance at victory.
Through two games, James is averaging 41.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 2.5 3-point field goals made. He scored 44 points in Game 1 and went off for 38 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 2.
Statistically, there isn’t much more James could be doing to help his team win.
Beyond the numbers, James has a task ahead of him that could forever define his legacy.
All James has to overcome is league MVP Stephen Curry, All-NBA shooting guard Klay Thompson, All-Defensive First Team forward Draymond Green and former All-Star and two-time All-Defense honoree Andre Iguodala.
If that sounds improbable, it is.
Riding the strength of its depth and star power, Golden State won 67 games during the regular season, going 39-2 at home. Prior to the NBA Finals, it lost just one home game during the entire 2015 NBA Playoffs.
Two games in, James has already led Cleveland to a road win against the Warriors in the 2015 NBA Finals.
On the downside, James scored a meaningless two points in overtime during Game 1 and missed a key free throw in overtime in Game 2. He also missed shots that would’ve won the game in regulation during both encounters.
Fatigue is generally unconquerable, but in moments like this, James needs to close out—without Irving and Love, no one else consistently will.
A loss wouldn’t tarnish his legacy considering how ravaged by injuries his supporting cast is. Winning this series, however, would elevate his legacy to new heights entirely.
Unfortunately, there’s a legion of nostalgic militants who will do anything it takes to dispute James’ greatness. There’s an equally as passionate group that sees no flaw in their beloved King.
Walking a thin line between objectively and subjectively speaking, James leading the Cavaliers to a title in 2015 would be on par with the greatest feats in NBA history.
Given the caliber of the remaining supporting cast James has to play with, two names come to mind for all-time comparisons: Rick Barry and Bill Walton. For those unfamiliar, both led teams to the most improbable titles ever.
That’s more on the subjective side, but the numbers support the theory.
Barry led the Warriors to the 1975 NBA championship with an average of 29.5 points per game in the Finals. For perspective, the second-leading scorer on Golden State’s roster averaged 11.5 points per contest during that series.
All Barry had to overcome was dangerous scorer Phil Chenier, Hall of Famers Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld, and the rest of the 60-win Washington Bullets—generally viewed as the best team in the NBA.
Walton did the unthinkable in 1977, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to an indescribably surprising title. Matched up against Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers, Walton dominated the series as a scorer, rebounder, facilitator and defensive anchor.
It was a career-defining moment that culminated in Portland winning its first and only NBA championship.
In 2015, James has an opportunity to blend Barry and Walton’s incomparable feats into one. His roster is filled out by capable defenders with limited offensive prowess and role players who were written off as non-factors before Cleveland acquired them.
Playing without a single contemporary All-Star on the roster against the most dominant team in the league, James can, once and for all, silence his critics.
The theory that James can only win when surrounded by Hall of Fame talent would be dispelled and discredited. The remaining strands of anger over, “The Decision,” would wash away as James rewards the city of Cleveland with a title 51 years in the making.
The notion that James can’t close out games could be proved wrong. The idea that he never truly lived up to his potential would become myth.
As glorious a moment as it would be, it’s all relying upon an, “If.”
James is the greatest player of his generation, and winning this championship would solidify his place in history. Most already have him as a Top 10 player all-time, but this feat would be unlike anything his Top 10 counterparts have achieved.
The question is, can LeBron James actually do the unthinkable?
Can he bring the Cavaliers their first title? Can he give Cleveland its first title since the 1964 Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Barons won the NFL Championship and Calder Cup, respectively?
If he does, for the first time ever, the debate—yes, that debate—would gain enough traction to for reasonable speculation to commence.
Next: Cleveland Cavaliers: The Last Defense
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