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Coastalmakers thread on what Lebron finals outcome would you change got me thinking a little bit about the 2007 finals. At that point, Lebron was 22 and not in his prime, 2007 is probably not one of the 12 best versions of Lebron. But the finals was actually reasonably close for a sweep, no game decided by more than 11 and the last 2 decided by 4 combined.

As such, my question is do you think another version of Lebron or any other player could have won that series in 2007 Lebron's place? Or at least, how competitive could it have been. I definitely think peak Lebron, MJ, etc could have probably made it 6 games potentially.

Just rewatched game 1 of that series and man, James was so bad in that game. I can't imagine prime James having as bad game as that, he improved so much.

Duncan was absurd on defense by the way. Cavs couldn't score anything inside when he was on the court.

Also, for anyone thinking that Duncan wasn't treated like a superstar at that point:

No I don’t think any version of Lebron could’ve won that series in his place. People likely make too much of 2 of those games being close, and that was due to defense much more than offense. Peak Lebron isn’t turning them into a great offense, and he wouldn’t have his way with that stiffling Spurs defense either. Not a sweep but a 6 game series most likely. Btw, I don’t even think the Cavs beat the Pistons if Ben Wallace was still there.

Win I don't know, but make them more competitive... hell yes. I don't see 2018 LeBron being stopped like that. Or 2009 LeBron.

But it happened when it happened... he had a lot of trouble with his TOs wich I think San Antonio would always make him have, but his shot was horrendus in that series while 2018 LeBron was a machine from the perimeter for example.

I think he defended well in those finals so... Idk if his oldest forms could replicate the quick rotations.

No-more-rings wrote:No I don’t think any version of Lebron could’ve won that series in his place. People likely make too much of 2 of those games being close, and that was due to defense much more than offense. Peak Lebron isn’t turning them into a great offense, and he wouldn’t have his way with that stiffling Spurs defense either. Not a sweep but a 6 game series most likely. Btw, I don’t even think the Cavs beat the Pistons if Ben Wallace was still there.

We don't know about that since the year before,when the pistons won 64 games,the cavs were very close to win game 6 and the series

Homer38 wrote:

No-more-rings wrote:No I don’t think any version of Lebron could’ve won that series in his place. People likely make too much of 2 of those games being close, and that was due to defense much more than offense. Peak Lebron isn’t turning them into a great offense, and he wouldn’t have his way with that stiffling Spurs defense either. Not a sweep but a 6 game series most likely. Btw, I don’t even think the Cavs beat the Pistons if Ben Wallace was still there.

We don't know about that since the year before,when the pistons won 64 games,the cavs were very close to win game 6 and the series

Well of course I didn’t say it was guaranteed, but naturally when a team loses their best defender and top rim protector that’s a big deal when going against someone like Lebron wouldn’t you think? Furthermore, the Pistons were up 2-0 and outside of game 5 Lebron wasn’t as good as people like to think.

Relative to that season/era I think that cast was probably better than any of the other first stint Cavs or the 15 and 18 team. Putting a better LeBron on that team makes things interesting, especially a two way monster like 12, 13 or 16 was.

I don't know if they'd win the series but they'd certainly win a game or two.

capfan33 wrote:Coastalmakers thread on what Lebron finals outcome would you change got me thinking a little bit about the 2007 finals. At that point, Lebron was 22 and not in his prime, 2007 is probably not one of the 12 best versions of Lebron. But the finals was actually reasonably close for a sweep, no game decided by more than 11 and the last 2 decided by 4 combined.

As such, my question is do you think another version of Lebron or any other player could have won that series in 2007 Lebron's place? Or at least, how competitive could it have been. I definitely think peak Lebron, MJ, etc could have probably made it 6 games potentially.

I think so as far as extending to 6 games is concerned. That was a very good to great Spurs team, so probably not win. On the hand, James was -4 on court for thr entire series AND +6 over the last two (+4 and +2) and this was with inefficient and turnover prone offense, so a peak LeBron could have changed things drastically.

Would '09 PS LeBron make it close? Peak athleticism, high confidence, shooting caught fire.

Game 3 and 4, the final score had been close but the spurs were in control in every game... Only one or two minutes in game 4 the cavs had the lead at one point in the second half in this series... Still I believe 2018 LeBron would have been able to win at least 2 games

I think any later version of LeBron changes things a lot. Enough to win the series? I doubt it but the stats he put up in that finals tell a lot. Put in 2012 LeBron and the Spurs have no real answer for him imo. Its just a matter of whether his teammates are going to step up and make shots and things like that because that's what you need to win a title.

I have his 2018 supporting cast as better where he got swept, despite being a better player than in 07. So I can't see any version of Lebron coming close, nor Jordan.

Dr Positivity wrote:I have his 2018 supporting cast as better where he got swept, despite being a better player than in 07. So I can't see any version of Lebron coming close, nor Jordan.

The 2018 cavs team were just awful on defense.The 2007 cavs were fourth on defense and I think the version of 2018 LeBron would improve very significant the 2007 offense enough to win at least 2 games vs spurs

Homer38 wrote:

Dr Positivity wrote:I have his 2018 supporting cast as better where he got swept, despite being a better player than in 07. So I can't see any version of Lebron coming close, nor Jordan.

The 2018 cavs team were just awful on defense.The 2007 cavs were fourth on defense and I think the version of 2018 LeBron would improve very significant the 2007 offense enough to win at least 2 games vs spurs

I have 2018 team as easily better supporting cast on offense than the Cavs in 07. On defense 07 Cavs may be better but their team outside of Lebron still isn't that good on that end.

I dislike 07 Cavs supporting cast not just because of talent but they are not a team that is more than their parts. It's the same reason a team like this wouldn't be as good as 2022 Mavs to me despite having arguably more talent

Doncic
LeVert
Luwawu-Cabarrot
Harrell
Valanciunas

Bench: Rubio, Looney, Vincent

Now tbf 2007 was a better time period to be playing a frontcourt like that, but this is basically what Lebron made the finals with to me with Hughes and Gooden as being these guys like Levert/Harrell that I don't really trust personally. Snow was older than Rubio and Varejao younger than Looney so that bench comp is probably being kind to them as well.