Fansided

Ranking the 5 best Eastern Conference teams LeBron James has destroyed

By Bryan Toporek

MIAMI, FL - MAY 24: (L-R) Kyle Korver #26, Carlos Boozer #5, Derrick Rose #1, Luol Deng #9 and Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls talk on court against the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2011 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The Heat won 101-93 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MAY 24: (L-R) Kyle Korver #26, Carlos Boozer #5, Derrick Rose #1, Luol Deng #9 and Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls talk on court against the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2011 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The Heat won 101-93 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /
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With seven straight NBA Finals berths under his belt, look back at the Eastern Conference teams LeBron James has destroyed over the years.

The Toronto Raptors are the latest team to feel the wrath of LeBron James in the playoffs, but they have plenty of company from over the years.

Heading into the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, James has won 23 straight playoff series against Eastern Conference teams. The 2009-10 Boston Celtics were the last East squad to successfully vanquish a James-led squad, although their 2017-18 counterparts appear poised to follow suit after dominating James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 on Sunday.

In response to their second straight sweep at the hands of James, the Raptors decided to fire head coach Dwane Casey on Friday. When asked about Casey’s dismissal, James told reporters, “I’m definitely not a one-man army.”

You can’t blame the rest of the Eastern Conference for feeling differently over the past decade, though.

James has now been to 10 of the past 12 Eastern Conference Finals. If his Cavaliers overcome their 1-0 series deficit against the Celtics this year, he’ll earn his eighth straight trip to the NBA Finals as the East’s representative, too.

Throughout his reign of terror over the East, James has vanquished a number of would-be challengers to his throne. Which were the best? Based on regular-season success, star power and depth, let’s take a look.

Next: Honorable mention: The mid-2000s Washington Wizards

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