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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AUBURN HILLS, MI – DECEMBER 6: Gilbert Arenas #0, Caron Butler #3 and Antawn Jamison #4 of the Washington Wizards talking during a game against the Detroit Pistons in a game at the Palace of Auburn Hills on December 6, 2009 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Allen Einstein/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – DECEMBER 6: Gilbert Arenas #0, Caron Butler #3 and Antawn Jamison #4 of the Washington Wizards talking during a game against the Detroit Pistons in a game at the Palace of Auburn Hills on December 6, 2009 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Allen Einstein/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Honorable mention: The mid-2000s Washington Wizards

Before James and the Cavaliers began their annual playoff thrashing of the Raptors, the mid-2000s Washington Wizards became their first regular victim.

Led by a pair of All-Stars in Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, the Wizards won 45 games in 2004-05 and beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs before Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat swept them in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. That summer, Washington shipped 2001 No. 1 overall pick Kwame Brown to the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Laron Profit in exchange for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins, giving Washington a nominal Big Three of Arenas, Jamison and Butler.

While that trio went on to average 67.4 points per game during the 2005-06 regular season, it was no match for James and the Cavaliers in the first round of the 2006 playoffs. In his first-ever playoff series, James averaged 35.7 points on 51.0 percent shooting, 7.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks in a whopping 47.3 minutes per game, leading Cleveland to a 4-2 victory over Washington. The Cavs’ second-highest scorer in that series, Larry Hughes, averaged 12.3 points per game on 31.3 percent shooting, and it didn’t matter one bit.

History went on to repeat itself each of the next two years, although injuries took the wind out of Washington’s sails.

Arenas, Butler and Jamison guided the Wizards to 41 wins and the No. 7 seed in 2006-07, but James promptly swept them out of the first round after Arenas and Butler missed the series due to injuries. A torn meniscus limited Arenas to only 13 regular-season games in 2007-08, and he was a shell of his former self against the Cavs in the first round of that year’s playoffs. Washington fell down in the series 2-0 and 3-1 before ultimately succumbing in six games.

After undergoing a third surgery on his left knee ahead of the 2008-09 season, Arenas played only two games that year, and the Wizards finished with an East-low 19 wins. Washington decided to blow apart its core at the following trade deadline, shipping Jamison to Cleveland (to join forces with James, ironically) and sending Butler to the Dallas Mavericks.

If not for Arenas’ injuries, the mid-2000s Wizards may have put up more of a fight against James and the Cavaliers. Instead, they became the first of many footnotes in his lengthy list of playoff conquests.

Next: 5. The 2013-14 Indiana Pacers

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