LeBron Makes Seeding Irrelevant For The Cleveland Cavaliers

Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers are counting down the days until the NBA playoffs start, so they can watch their hometown hero LeBron James assert his dominance on the Eastern Conference yet again.

Since he’s been in this league, LeBron James has been in a class of his own in the Eastern Conference. In his seven playoff appearances with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the King has gone to four conference finals and has a record of 3-1 (according to RealGM). Let’s not forget that he won the East all four years as a member of the Miami Heat as well.

All together, the dude has made six straight NBA Finals appearances.

In his first time getting through the East, LBJ led the two-seed Cavs past the well-established Detroit Pistons who were clearly the top dog of the Eastern Conference. The King was playing with a real offensive juggernaut (hint hint, sarcasm) around him, highlighted by 6-foot-2 shooting guard Daniel Gibson and players the likes of journeyman Drew Gooden.

The Cavs dethroned the Motor City in Game 6 behind the best game of Gibson’s life, but they wouldn’t have had a chance in the series if it weren’t for the King’s legendary heroics in Game 5 on the road. The real Cavs fans will never forget this performance, where he had 25 straight points for the Clevelanders and 48 overall.

Looking forward to the King’s first season in Miami, the Heat were the two-seed as well. They only lost a combined two games against the three-seed Boston Celtics and one-seed Chicago Bulls that time around. Since his return to the Land, it’s been a similar scenario regarding seeding.

In the 2015 playoffs, the Cavs were the two-seed again. Like it was in Miami in that first campaign, it took some time to figure out the playing style for James and his teammates. Nonetheless, the King proved once again that it doesn’t matter if the best player in the world has home court advantage in the East. He’ll dominate at home or on the road.

In the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron led all players (on either team) in points, assists, steals, and was tied for the most rebounds per game with Tristan Thompson. That was another time in which his team was the lower seed, and dominated. That was another LBJ sweep, and the Atlanta Hawks are pretty used to that by now. They were swept by the Cavs again last year, and had no chance.

Last, but not least, the Golden State Warriors had home court advantage in the NBA Finals last season. We all remember how that went. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and company blew a 3-1 series lead and the Cavs won two elimination games on the road with James doing virtually everything.

Here’s “The Block” (sorry Dray):

The Real MVP led players on both teams in the series in points, rebounds, assists, steals, AND blocks per game.

Just to clarify, he passed Michael Jordan in last year’s playoffs as the all-time leader in NBA playoff win shares as well. By the time it’s all said and done, the King will have a lot more than 41.58 win shares in the playoffs.

It doesn’t matter where the games are played; you never count out the best player in the world. Some of LBJ’s most iconic playoff moments have been away from the Q.

Granted, the Cavs will likely have the one-seed locked up, but who really cares anyhow? We all know that as long as 23 is playing, the Eastern Conference playoffs are simply a formality.

You know that’ll keep the Warriors sweating profusely at night, especially Kevin Durant.

Can Durant finally beat Bron? We shall see.

Golden State will have their hands full with Kawhi Leonard before that, too.

Regardless, you know the King is always going to #StriveForGreatness.

Related Story: Do The Cleveland Cavaliers Care About The Regular Season?

Do you think that what seed the Cleveland Cavaliers will end up with matters? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.