Can the King be dethroned?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are still alive after game 4 of the NBA finals. With a huge win at home Friday night against the Golden State Warriors, they saved themselves from getting swept by arguably the greatest team of all time. It took the King getting another triple double with a box score of 31-10-11, with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving adding 23 and 40 points respectively.

However, with another incredible scoring out

After game four of the NBA Finals, the Cavs are still alive

ing by Kevin Durant with 35 points, can Lebron conquer this mountain in Game 5? Especially, considering the home court advantage the Warriors will have. There is something to be said about getting hot at the right time. Clearly, being down 3-1 hasn’t stopped the Cavs before, as just last year they were down 3-1 until forcing and winning game seven.

Unfortunately, this is not the same Warriors team the Cavs upset last year. Kevin Durant has been in a word, unstoppable. So far he’s averaging 34 points to lead both teams this series. That’s 5 more than Lebron averaged in last year’s finals and he earned unanimous finals MVP with his performance.

One of the hottest topics this NBA season is Lebron chasing the legacy of Michael Jordan and trying to earn the “GOAT” title that many, myself included have been labelling him with. A subplot line to that is if “King” James is even the best player in today’s NBA. Has Durant’s dominance in the playoffs catapulted him to the top of the food chain?

Last year we went through the same argument with Steph Curry. People love to hate on the King, but is any of it warranted? This is Lebron’s 7th straight finals appearance. Which is the most of any player who didn’t play for the great Celtics dynasty in the 50’s and 60’s. Will beating this Warrior super team be enough to end the argument?

My Take… Michael Who?

Regardless of what happens, Lebron is still the king of today’s NBA. Durant is producing at a great level, but look at the context. He’s playing along two of the best shooters in the League. One of whom is arguably one of the greatest shooters ever. Draymond Green is a perennial defensive play of the year candidate. And Zaza…well Zaza’s just along for the ride.

Draymond Green is a perennial defensive play of the year candidate. And Zaza…well Zaza’s just along for the ride.

This is arguably, on paper, the greatest team assembled in NBA history. Their shooting and length are incredible. This team beats the early 2000’s Lakers. They beat the late 80’s Lakers, and in my opinion, they beat the Jordan era Bulls.

Now, could they beat those teams in their time, when the game was more physical? Probably not. However, you drop any of those teams in today’s NBA and they would lose. So even if they would have swept Cleveland in 4, it wouldn’t have hurt Lebron’s legacy.

So even if they would have swept Cleveland in 4, it wouldn’t have hurt Lebron’s legacy. He’s averaging a triple double, what else is he supposed to do?! He’s getting zero support from the bench. It is almost like watching the 2007 finals again where he carried that team all season and through his will alone, they made the finals.

It is almost like watching the 2007 finals again where he carried that team all season and through his will alone, they made the finals.

Sit down…Be humble

If the Cavs win the finals, one of these two things will happen. Either A, the NBA is rigged, and then who cares at that point. Or B, Lebron James is simply the greatest basketball player to ever walk this Earth. It will be because of him that they do win.

Now, he can’t win this alone. Kyrie is going to have to put up at minimum 25 a night. Tristan Thompson is going to have to do his part, and Kevin Love is going to have to prove that white guys deserve to get paid millions of dollars to play in the NBA.

Win or lose, James is still King. Durant scores all he wants, Steph can drain a billion threes, and Westbrook can put up the best stat line ever.

Lebron James is going to keep blocking whoever he wants, and he will continue to be the best passing big man in the league because that’s just who he is.