Fansided

Ranking the 10 best playoff series of LeBron James’ career

By Jeremy Morris

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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LeBron James (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
LeBron James (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

7. 2009: Eastern Conference Finals vs. Orlando Magic (lost series 4-2)

Series Averages: 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 48.7 FG%, 44:02 minutes

After a franchise record 66 wins, the Cavs rolled through the first two rounds of the 2009 playoffs, sweeping the Pistons and Hawks. Then they ran into reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, and the Orlando Magic.

Had a call or two gone the other way or a shot or two fallen, the series could easily have gone the Cavs’ way. Cleveland lost Game 1 by a single point and Game 4 by two points after a LeBron 3 rimmed out at the buzzer. Even with 38.5 points a game, a double-double, and a triple-double, the Magic still took down the Cavs in six games.

The other four players in Cleveland’s starting five made solid contributions but the bench averaged only 8 points per game. Even with LeBron’s individual heroics, the Magic bench outplayed the Cavs dramatically and that was the difference in the series.

Best single-game performance: Game 1 (Magic 107 – Cavs 106)

LeBron was 20-of-30 from the floor, scored 49 points and added 6 rebounds and 8 assists. The Cavs still came up a point short and the Magic jumped out to a 1-0 series lead.