5 Eastern Conference contenders that never got past LeBron James

MIAMI, FL - MAY 26: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball as Paul George #24 of the Indiana Pacers defends during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 26, 2014 in Miami, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat in action against Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 1, 2014 in New York City. The Heat defeated the Knicks 106-91. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

3. New York Knicks

The early-2010s Knicks teams are foundational to the modern NBA, particularly the 2012-13 iteration that was vanquished by the Pacers in the playoffs. But before that, New York took on Miami in the first round in 2012, showing right away they were no match for the Big Three Heat.

The 2011-12 Knicks were the team thoroughly hollowed out by the franchise’s insistence on trading for Carmelo Anthony in-season, rather than simply signing him in free agency the following year. They limped into the playoffs at 36-30 (a lockout-shortened season) and featured random role players like Renaldo Balkman, Mike Bibby and Steve Novak alongside Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler.

Most will remember 2012 was also the spring that brought Linsanity to the Big Apple. But by the playoffs, Jeremy Lin had already gone down with an injury, which helped set the stage for a blood bath in the playoffs. The Knicks won Game 4 by two points and were outscored in the other five games by a combined 72 points.

The next season, New York won 54 games after new head coach Mike Woodson finally committed to playing Anthony at power forward with shooters like J.R. Smith stretching the floor and given a firm green light. Yet by that point, the Pacers were even better, and those Knicks fell in six games to Indiana, never even getting the chance to face Miami again.