Top 5 LeBron Playoff Series

[falcolombardi]

2009 Magic is a popular choice. I think a big part is because Lebron got a hot shooting hand that series. Which combined with his peak motor and athleticism made it his best series statistically. 2009 Lebron is when I feel Lebron reached his peak athleticism. 2013 Lebron was his best as a 2 way player. 2018 Lebron was his best offensively.

I pick 2012 and 2018 as superior playoffs. I just think 2012 and 2018 Lebron would’ve been more likely to replicate the playoff runs those years. While if you played over 2009 again, I just think there is a better chance he won’t get as hot as he did.

Best series to me start to finish is probably the 2016 finals

the amount of free throws he (correctly)got was a much bigger deal than the somewhat hot shooting

he lost refs respect after that and slowly started to get a harsher whistle on offensive contact

[ardee]

Considering the competition and circumstances:

2016 Warriors
2018 Celtics
2012 Celtics
2018 Pacers
2009 Magic

HM: 2010 Bulls, 2017 and 2018 Raptors. He was insanely dominant in those but it was a bit too easy and it didn't feel like his team was as outmatched with insane pressure like in the above list.

[falcolombardi]

i think 2017 finals deserves more consideration, to me that is some of the best basketball ever played

he had fantastic offensive help but was still the motor of that historic playoffs offense, his numbers were absurd against a elite defense and he kept cavs decently competitive against the best team of all time when he was on court

he traded defense for offense but i dont think he was less impactful than 2016

quoting myself, but 2017 finals is arguably the best basketball lebron has played

[TheGOATRises007]

2016 Warriors
2012 Celtics
2009 Magic
2017 Warriors
2018 Celtics

HM: 2009 Hawks, 2017 Raptors, 2013 Pacers

[PhiEaglesfan712]

1. 2018 Raptors
2. 2018 Celtics
3. 2018 Pacers
4. 2016 Warriors
5. 2007 Pistons

[homecourtloss]

It’s absurd how many great series he’s had, many of which often won’t make a list like this since there were better ones given circumstances.

2020 vs. Blazers: 27/10/10 on 71% TS, 68% eFG
2020 vs. Heat: 30/12/9 on 67% TS, 66% eFG
2016 vs. Toronto: 26/8/7 on 67% TS, 66% eFG
2017 vs. Boston: 30/6/7 on 65% TS, 63% eFG
2018 vs. Indiana: 34/10/8 on 65% TS, 59% eFG (three different games of individual BPM over +20)
2009 vs. Hawks: 34/8/6 67% TS, 64% eFG (+28, +26, +34 individual game BPMs , 51.3 pts/100 possessions, +25 per 100 possessions on court)
2009 vs. Pistons: 32/11/8 on 62% TS, 53% eFG (+19, +20, +16, +20 individual game BPMs, +24 per 100 possessions on court)

[Homer38]

It’s absurd how many great series he’s had, many of which often won’t make a list like this since there were better ones given circumstances.

2020 vs. Blazers: 27/10/10 on 71% TS, 68% eFG
2020 vs. Heat: 30/12/9 on 67% TS, 66% eFG
2016 vs. Toronto: 26/8/7 on 67% TS, 66% eFG
2017 vs. Boston: 30/6/7 on 65% TS, 63% eFG
2018 vs. Indiana: 34/10/8 on 65% TS, 59% eFG (three different games of individual BPM over +20)
2009 vs. Hawks: 34/8/6 67% TS, 64% eFG (+28, +26, +34 individual game BPMs , 51.3 pts/100 possessions, +25 per 100 possessions on court)
2009 vs. Pistons: 32/11/8 on 62% TS, 53% eFG (+19, +20, +16, +20 individual game BPMs, +24 per 100 possessions on court)

True it was not the best opponents but the game 3 vs hawks in 2009 was so good!

Watch on YouTube

[MisterHibachi]

2016 Warriors
2009 Magic
2013 Pacers
2017 Warriors
2018/2012 Celtics

How do you feel about his campaign against the 2018 Raps?

It's really good, but don't think it cracks the top 5 just because it wasn't in the conference finals or Finals. Pressure was different. I'm not even sure that series is better than what he did against the Pacers that year or against the Raptors the year before, or some of his Hawks series in either Cavs stint.

[uberhikari]

.

Here's one of the craziest defensive plays I've ever seen.

LeBron is stationary and gets blown by. He instantly swivels his hips, takes 2 steps and explodes off of the wrong foot (right foot), and blocks the shot after the offensive player has jumped for the layup.

Like this should not be physically possible. LeBron's jumping ability and explosion are just completely unmatched in NBA history.

[falcolombardi]

.

Here's one of the craziest defensive plays I've ever seen.

LeBron is stationary and gets blown by. He instantly swivels his hips, takes 2 steps and explodes off of the wrong foot (right foot), and blocks the shot after the offensive player has jumped for the layup.

Like this should not be physically possible. LeBron's jumping ability and explosion are just completely unmatched in NBA history.

i think there ia a better one in that same series, game 1 i think vs orlando

lebron ends as the only rim protector in a play, orlando player desists from driving against him and passes to the open corner so lebron -explodes- and closely contests the 3

from below the rim to contesting the corner in like a second

do you have the gif by any chance?

[uberhikari]

.

Here's one of the craziest defensive plays I've ever seen.

LeBron is stationary and gets blown by. He instantly swivels his hips, takes 2 steps and explodes off of the wrong foot (right foot), and blocks the shot after the offensive player has jumped for the layup.

Like this should not be physically possible. LeBron's jumping ability and explosion are just completely unmatched in NBA history.

i think there ia a better one in that same series, game 1 i think vs orlando

lebron ends as the only rim protector in a play, orlando player desists from driving against him and passes to the open corner so lebron -explodes- and closely contests the 3

from below the rim to contesting the corner in like a second

do you have the gif by any chance?

No, I don't have whole games. I just remember this from a highlight compilation from that series.

[MyUniBroDavis]

2016-18 lebron with 2009 lebrons whistle would have been averaging like 50 a game lol

I honestly think 2016 brons defense against the Warriors after game 4 was probably the best defense I’ve seen someone play, sure TT was a big part of it but still

Game 5 in particular was the most ridiculous defense ive ever seen, every block was one of those, if he didn’t block it it 100% goes in type of block, and he averaged 3 blocks and 3 steals for the last 4 games!

I honestly think those 4 games he was on par with like, good games by top tier DPOY players, in an era where that’s not super possible.

I know you can find defensive highlights everywhere

But a 8 minute defensive highlight reel of 3 games of mostly help D steals and blocks is crazy lol, this doesn’t count the rotations and stuff lol

Watch on YouTube

;list=PLMoeBW5uqJxwCPsDJUC-A9B7nSDfQ2XHS&index=22

[TheGOATRises007]

.

Here's one of the craziest defensive plays I've ever seen.

LeBron is stationary and gets blown by. He instantly swivels his hips, takes 2 steps and explodes off of the wrong foot (right foot), and blocks the shot after the offensive player has jumped for the layup.

Like this should not be physically possible. LeBron's jumping ability and explosion are just completely unmatched in NBA history.

i think there ia a better one in that same series, game 1 i think vs orlando

lebron ends as the only rim protector in a play, orlando player desists from driving against him and passes to the open corner so lebron -explodes- and closely contests the 3

from below the rim to contesting the corner in like a second

do you have the gif by any chance?

There's 1 against the Bulls in the 2012-2013 season(the game they lost the streak) where he lets 2 people get past him on purpose just to easily recover the block. I remember watching it in real-time and being amazed.