“I came back, to bring a championship to this city. I gave everything that I had. I poured my heart, my blood, my sweat, my tears to this game. CLEVELAND! THIS IS FOR YOU!”

— LeBron James' Game 7 Postgame Interview



Throughout his storied career, LeBron James could seldom be described as subtle. As a high schooler, the hype surrounding him rose to unprecedented heights. He allowed millions to watch his landmark decision to leave Cleveland, and published his letter to the city when he decided to come back.

His on-court play also follows this narrative. He dunks with a special ferocity, as if he is trying to squash the opponent’s hope along with the ball. His passes zip around the court like lasers bouncing off mirrors, often ending their path in the hands of a wide-open teammate. And he has perfected the chasedown block, a play unique to James that encompasses everything great about him: Generational athleticism, superb instincts, and sheer determination to win.

So it was no surprise that in his postgame interview, subtlety was not at the front of LeBron’s mind. He yelled at the top of his lungs, as if he wanted Cavs fans to hear it in their homes two thousand miles away.

For many years, I was enraptured with LeBron. He seemed to usher in a new kind of star, one who did not always need the ball in his hands. While many compared him to Jordan, this was always (and still is) an incorrect analogy.

Rather, LeBron seized the league from the true MJ disciple, and never looked back. In so doing, he captured my imagination and my support. I wanted to be able to say, “I was there for LeBron,” and for that to mean something.

His legacy became a lot murkier with the rise of Golden State, and amidst Cleveland’s incessant turmoil. James was no longer the league’s preeminent star – that title going to a diminutive point guard who can barely dunk.

This season, drama continued to swirl in Cleveland. David Blatt was fired when the team was 30-11 – and it was the right move. A 57 win team had to reckon with the fact that their third best player would be rendered unplayable against their likely Finals opponent. Despite a 12-2 run in the Eastern playoffs, Cleveland did not resemble a true juggernaut. They did not resemble a team that could topple a 73 win supernova.

The idea that “no one gave the Cavs a chance” isn’t just a hot take – it’s the actual truth. And there was strong logic behind it. Statheads picked the Warriors across the board. Media types did not debate “Cleveland or Golden State,” but rather “Golden State in 5 or Golden State in 6.” After building a 3-1 lead, the masses (and I) felt certain that the Warriors would repeat as champions.

Draymond’s suspension changed all that. It gave Cleveland a lifeline they never relinquished. Many focused on Kyrie’s spectacular shot-making after Game 5, but it belied LeBron’s remarkable performance. Somehow the King finished with a relatively quiet line of 41-16-7 with three blocks and steals each. That activity on the defensive end would prove to be his calling card from the series.

For such a talented team, Cleveland spent much of the postseason below average defensively. Against feeble Eastern Conference opponents, they allowed 103 points per 100 possessions. The plodding Kevin Love was a common scapegoat for these woes, but he was only part of the problem.

All too often, it was the same culprit that plagued the Cavs on defense – chemistry. Teammates would miscommunicate a switch, overreach in the passing lanes, or forget to help. Cleveland got away with it against the likes of Atlanta and Toronto, but Golden State would surely decimate their leaky defense in the Finals. They did exactly that, scoring 115 points per 100 possessions as they built a 2-0 series lead.

The series turned in Game 3, at least from a defensive standpoint. Love’s concussion forced Tyronn Lue to start Richard Jefferson in his place, thereby moving LeBron to power forward. This is where our story really begins – with LeBron finally moving to his optimal position.

For so much of the year, Draymond was lauded for his positional versatility. Golden State discovered how a playmaking 4 can open up everything in the pick and roll. And he ensured his value by refusing to surrender points on the other end, flourishing as a 6’7’’ rim protector. He was the ultimate mismatch against Cleveland, the guy who made Golden State unbeatable whenever Kerr decided to play him at center. And yet, Lue never saw what James could do in that same role – until Game 3.

LeBron submitted a brilliant game (his first of many), and unlocked his potential as a rim protector. At 31 years old, and having tallied over 45,000 minutes, he is still as physically unstoppable as ever. He’s probably the strongest player in the league, and possesses otherworldly leaping abilities. Alongside Tristan Thompson, the Cavs bullied the Warriors on every single drive.

Golden State is not only a jump-shooting team, despite what Charles Barkley would have you believe. During the regular season, they made more shots within 10 feet than the Cavs, and were 5th in FG% from this area. Their 58% clip was identical to Cleveland’s.

In Games 3 through 7, that mark plummeted as the Cavs locked up. Golden State made 21 of these shots per game in the regular season, but managed just 13 per contest in their five game collapse. That 58% mark fell to 47%, an awful figure that seems even worse on game film. Slowed by his MCL, Curry’s scarce forays into the paint were smothered by LeBron.