RealGM

Its his 40th birthday, and I happened to flip on NBA TV and the game I've always said is the best I've ever seen him play is on - Game 6 against Golden State in 2016. But what are some of the other picks around these parts?

2007 vs detroit game 5
2012 vs boston game 6
Final 3 games vs warriors in 2016

Those are in the top in my head

2009 ecf game 1 easily lol

OhayoKD wrote:2009 ecf game 1 easily lol

Maybe his most underrated game...still heartbroken about this losses

Game 7 in boston in 2008 was also all-time great despite losing this game

It's game 6 vs Boston 2012 when you consider context, and I don't think it's close. Greatest game ever played IMO.

In terms of in-game impact/level of play, game 1 vs Orlando in 09, game 4 vs the Pacers in 12, game 5 vs Detroit in 07, and game 1 vs GS in 18 are all good candidates. Of course there are plenty more.

Idk about best but during the 2017 playoffs he was making professional players look like amateurs at times

none of them he sux

One thing about Game 6 of 2016 that hasn’t been mentioned yet is the defense.

Aside from the obvious offense, the Warriors also shot 1/11 against him, including 0/4 in the paint/at the rim.

https://www.nba.com/stats/player/2544/defense-dash?Season=2015-16&SeasonType=Playoffs&DateFrom=06%2F16%2F2016&DateTo=06%2F16%2F2016

It's game 6 vs Boston in 2012.

No NBA player ever had that much pressure in a game.

Hmm... this gets at the difference between "best" and "greatest." As others have said, the stakes being what they were, how LeBron responded in 2012 game six vs. Boston looms large. But the best basketball he ever played in the postseason was probably one of those of second-stint Cleveland games where everything seemed almost in slow-motion compared to the precision of his drives and passes. But, a non-elimination LeBronto game simply doesn't rise to the level of legendary in our imaginations.

Tim Lehrbach wrote:Hmm... this gets at the difference between "best" and "greatest." As others have said, the stakes being what they were, how LeBron responded in 2012 game six vs. Boston looms large. But the best basketball he ever played in the postseason was probably one of those of second-stint Cleveland games where everything seemed almost in slow-motion compared to the precision of his drives and passes. But, a non-elimination LeBronto game simply doesn't rise to the level of legendary in our imaginations.

Why would the best second-stint cleveland games be better than the best first-stint ones.

Tim Lehrbach wrote:Hmm... this gets at the difference between "best" and "greatest." As others have said, the stakes being what they were, how LeBron responded in 2012 game six vs. Boston looms large. But the best basketball he ever played in the postseason was probably one of those of second-stint Cleveland games where everything seemed almost in slow-motion compared to the precision of his drives and passes. But, a non-elimination LeBronto game simply doesn't rise to the level of legendary in our imaginations.

The '17 Playoff were just utterly absurd.

2012 ECF Game 6 at TD Garden.

OhayoKD wrote:

Tim Lehrbach wrote:Hmm... this gets at the difference between "best" and "greatest." As others have said, the stakes being what they were, how LeBron responded in 2012 game six vs. Boston looms large. But the best basketball he ever played in the postseason was probably one of those of second-stint Cleveland games where everything seemed almost in slow-motion compared to the precision of his drives and passes. But, a non-elimination LeBronto game simply doesn't rise to the level of legendary in our imaginations.

Why would the best second-stint cleveland games be better than the best first-stint ones.

Maybe they're not. I perceived LeBron as having unlocked an even greater level of mastery, at least on the offensive end, during Cavs II. I suppose I am betraying my own statement above about distinguishing "best" from "greatest" insofar as I am not putting forward an objective case for best but going off impressions and team results (e.g., offensive rating, wins).

Tim Lehrbach wrote:

OhayoKD wrote:

Tim Lehrbach wrote:Hmm... this gets at the difference between "best" and "greatest." As others have said, the stakes being what they were, how LeBron responded in 2012 game six vs. Boston looms large. But the best basketball he ever played in the postseason was probably one of those of second-stint Cleveland games where everything seemed almost in slow-motion compared to the precision of his drives and passes. But, a non-elimination LeBronto game simply doesn't rise to the level of legendary in our imaginations.

Why would the best second-stint cleveland games be better than the best first-stint ones.

Maybe they're not. I perceived LeBron as having unlocked an even greater level of mastery, at least on the offensive end, during Cavs II. I suppose I am betraying my own statement above about distinguishing "best" from "greatest" insofar as I am not putting forward an objective case for best but going off impressions and team results (e.g., offensive rating, wins).

The most impressive swings in results come from the first stint. And from a basketball perspective first Cleveland is the time he is exerting more gravity and physical involvement in the offense than any non-wing ever (anyone ever for the latter) and he's hypereffecient in that role.

Lebron was running the offense and making calls on who to sub in or out at 21. Even if you think mastery or becoming a good shooter overcomes that in general, for a singular game first cleveland Lebron has a whole playoff run of hot shooting.

And that's before we get to the "far and away best defender on -4.5 defenses" side of things.

OhayoKD wrote:2009 ecf game 1 easily lol

The Hawks game 3 was the best that playoffs

;pp=ygURMjAwOSBoYXdrcyBsZWJyb24%3D

3. Detroit in 07- Final 28 0f final 29 points in final 5 minutes plus OT.
2. Game 6 Bos 2012. Shotmaking exhibition.

1. BY FAR Game 6 at home in 2016 vs GSW. The perfect game. I've never seen anyone dominate an entire half like that, especially given the competition. GS went on one of their patented runs and should have won, he brings the game to a crawl to control the Warriors's offense and proceeds to create majority of the Cavs field goals while coordinating the defense and putting up highlights like the block and trashtalk on Curry, the alleys to Tristan thompson and the final comeback killing dagger. In this game nearly every other assist was a highlight.

EmpireFalls wrote:

OhayoKD wrote:2009 ecf game 1 easily lol

The Hawks game 3 was the best that playoffs

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygURMjAwOSBoYXdrcyBsZWJyb24%3D

in the context of the opponent, meh. magic game has Lebron dropping 40 hyper-effeciently including a go ahead basket. But it also opens with one of the most impressive stretches of playmaking ever:
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=111950624#p111950624

League's top defense opens on Lebron attempting to use the "Lebron Rules". Lebron makes it immediately obvious that's he too good of a decision-maker and playmaker for that to work, even if that only manifests as a couple of assists in the box-score. An all-time example of why, often, PER and advanced stats and basketball reference do not matter.

No perimeter player has ever played this well, or even gotten particularly close to it.

I remember exactly where I was and who I was with when Lebron took over that 07’ playoff game in Detroit. I knew in real time we were witnessing what was going to be a pantheon player. Kinda gives me chills thinking back to it.

Even though it was a loss game 1 vs Golden St in 2018 might have been his most complete performance of his career.