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 and Jayson Tatum (0) of the Boston Celtics after Cleveland won game seven  of the Eastern Conference Finals 87-79 (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
LeBron James (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jayson Tatum (0) of the Boston Celtics after Cleveland won game seven  of the Eastern Conference Finals 87-79 (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. 2018: Eastern Conference Finals vs. Boston Celtics (won series 4-3)

Series Averages: 33.6 points, 9 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 52.2 FG%, 41:40 minutes

In case anyone’s already forgotten, before the Warriors swept the Cavs in the finals, LeBron spent eight months dragging the Cavs to a 50-win season then carrying them through the Eastern Conference playoffs.

He averaged 34 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists for the entire playoffs and he (yes — he, not they) won Games 6 and 7 without Kevin Love to end the Celtics’ Cinderella run in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celts jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the series then leading 3-2, forced Cleveland to win back to back elimination games, which they did despite Love, the only other player to average in double-figures during the series, not playing.

It’s become par for the course, which makes what LeBron has done even more insane, but again, he had five double-doubles and three 40-point nights in seven games. Regardless of how unlikely the Celtics playoff story was or how easily Golden State took care of the Cavs in the finals, the absurdity of just how good LeBron James was during the 2018 playoffs can’t be overlooked or overstated.

Nike’s “Chosen1” tattoo ad loses a bit of its luster with the “Always Believe” ending right before the finals but I guess that’s neither here nor there.

Best single-game performance: Game 6 (Cavs 109 — Celtics 99)

At home with their backs against the wall LeBron went for 46, including 5-of-7 from beyond the 3-point line and rounded out the win with 11 rebounds and 9 assists.