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Where does LeBron’s Game 3 performance rank among his top playoff performances

By Robbie DiPaola

Apr 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 119-114. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 119-114. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James added another moment to his already historic playoff career with an outstanding performance against the Indiana Pacers in Game 3.

Every great player has those defining moments in their career that we will remember for decades after they are done playing.  LeBron James had that in Game 3.

With the Cavaliers down by as many as 26 points in the third quarter, James rallied the team all the way back and won the game 119-114 to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Pacers.  James recorded  his 17th triple-double with 41 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and just three turnovers.  In the second half alone James put up 26 points, six rebounds, seven assists, zero turnovers and had a +30 rating.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers /

Cleveland Cavaliers

But where does this latest performance rank among James’ best playoff performances?

There was the night that LeBron James officially arrived, May 31, 2007, Game 5  of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons. James, who was just 22 at the time, scored 25 straight points and 29 out of the Cavaliers last 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to propel them to a 109-107 victory.  James totals for the game were 48 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.  Just two days later James would dispatch of the Pistons and make his first career trip to the NBA Finals.

Then there was Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston in 2012.  This game is widely regarded as James’ best career playoff performance as the Heat were facing elimination to the Celtics.  James ripped the heart out of Boston fans that night in June with an epic performance, scoring 45 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and dishing out five assists to save the Heat’s season and eventually go on to capture his first career championship.

Also near the top of the list of James’ all-time postseason performances was Games 5-7 of the NBA last season when he led the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit against the Warriors.  In those three games James averaged 36.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists on 51 percent shooting.  These three games forever changed the narrative on James’ career and cemented his legacy as one of the elite players in NBA history.

This most recent performance by James may not be the greatest, which says quite a bit because it was an impressive feat that only someone of James’ stature could pull off in such a hostile environment.  This is a performance that belongs in the top 10 among James’ playoff best.

Although Game 3 against the Pacers was an impressive one for James, it was just the first round of the playoffs and unlike the performances mentioned above his team’s back was not against the wall or facing elimination, which is why it is not higher on the list. Nonetheless it was still a game Cavs fans everywhere will remember for quite some time.

Must Read: 7 Things We Learned in Game 3

In fact the line James put up in the second half of Game 3 against the Pacers of 26/6/7 has only been replicated by 11 other players since 1984, and they needed an entire game to accomplish what James did in one half. Thursday night’s epic performance was just the latest reminder from James of how great he still truly is and what he can do when the lights shine brightest.