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NBA Playoffs 2017: 5 things we learned from the Cavaliers sweep of the Raptors

By Akash Anavarathan

May 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) celebrate after the second round of game four of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) celebrate after the second round of game four of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) controls a ball during the second quarter in the second round of game four of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) controls a ball during the second quarter in the second round of game four of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Like MJ, LeBron is blocking teams from championships

One of the underrated impacts of Michael Jordan’s career was that other teams couldn’t win championships because of his presence. The Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns’ teams from the 1990s probably still wake up with nightmares of what could have been if Jordan wasn’t in the league.

Jordan singlehandedly destroyed teams’ hopes to win championships and forever changed the fortune of certain franchises. LeBron James is on the same mission in the Eastern Conference, controlling the destiny of not only his team, but others in the conference as well.

LeBron’s been in the league for 14 years and nine of those times he’s ended up in the Eastern Conference Finals. Seven of those times, he’s ended up in the NBA Finals. Since his four-year stint in Miami began, LeBron has controlled the landscape in the East and is blocking teams from competing for rings.

Think back four or five years ago to the great Indiana Pacers’ teams. It featured a strong front line, an up and coming star in Paul George and a lot of veterans. In three tries against LeBron and the Heat, they fell short of getting past them. The Pacers then blew up that team and might end up losing Paul George for good as well.

Look at the Atlanta Hawks, the “Spurs-West”, from a years ago. They had four All-Stars in Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver and Al Horford. That core was broken up after unsuccessful attempts at defeating the King and his squad. Horford’s now a Celtic, Teague’s a Pacer and Korver’s a Cavalier.

Now add the Toronto Raptors to this list. They’ve tried to slay the Cavaliers the last few years in the playoffs and have come up well short of getting past them. With Kyle Lowry likely becoming a free agent, it looks like Toronto’s core might be breaking up as well.

Similar to what Jordan did in the 1990s, LeBron is doing in the Eastern Conference today. Due to his presence and greatness, good teams aren’t able to compete for championships. As a result, teams are breaking up their current core and waiting out the reign of LeBron James to end.

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Based on what we’ve seen this postseason, LeBron James, even at the age of 32, looks to be playing the best basketball of his career. Seems like teams might have to wait a few years longer, before they have a legitimate shot at the title. Even if you think LeBron’s not as great as Jordan, the way he’s blocking teams from competing for titles certainly has to be admired.

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