The Raptors Had No Answer for 2018 LeBron James

With Kyrie leaving in 2018, the Raptors had their best chance at breaking through, but were thoroughly overmatched and left answerless by one player on a mission, as the legend of “LeBronto” was now undeniable.
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[@steviechampagne]

2016-2018 Lebron might be the goat lebron. he was too smart, too strong, and still had elite athleticism to run and jump at top speed.

[@marco5030]

Big defensive gap, and in other areas, too. 2013 LeBron was an elite defender, a great shooter, top 2 scorer ever, GOAT level peak

[@BlueGrovyle]

​​@@marco5030 think this opinion is overblown. He had great defensive stats in 2016, to say nothing of terrorizing the entire Warriors offense in the finals. Considering his overall capabilities, his second stint in Cleveland was definitely the most masterful basketball he's played, in my opinion, and I think the offensive burden he carried in 2018 is the only real reason his defense "fell off" to the extent that it did. I do agree that 2013 was the year if you had to pick one because he was just making everything.

[@HoopVenue]

I think it has a very strong (maybe even the best) argument as an offensive player, but think his defense in the earlier years bridges that gap.

[@xenon1800]

⁠@@marco5030definitely arguable. but playing both sides of the ball at a high level is veryy tiring. for someone who orchestrates the offense the way he does and plays such high minutes every night, his defense was great.

[@hoodierae5371]

12-14 bron>

[@KimWe-a-xler]

Casual fans dont understand things like this without the stat but LeBron controlled the game like he's moving pieces on a chess board. He didnt have to score or assist on every play, he just controls the pace of the game. He is, I think, the greatest and most perfect blend of scoring and playmaking. MJ could put that rock thru the hoop, and Magic could dish out them dimes, but LeBron could really kill you with a combination of both. And we havent even discussed his versatility and innate two-way impact.

[@seansachs6105]

I think there's a couple things that make this version of LeBron legendary: 1. His passing, while not quite at the ridiculous peak we saw it at in 2020, wasn't far off. He's always been a great skip passer, and those years saw him really sharpen his deliveries in certain areas, like with his back to the basket. He also went to manipulation more often and started consistently throwing lobs and other passes designed to punish size / strength mismatches for his big men. 2. His midrange and 3 point shots were perhaps the most consistent they'd ever been - the percentages weren't quite at Miami Bron levels (37.6% on just under 7 attempts per game in 2017-18 playoffs and 36.5% on 6.4 attempts per game in the regular seasons), but the volume was a touch higher, and his long midrange (16 to 23 ft) peaked in those seasons at 47%. 3. The league was shifting to a more spaced-out style, and while his athleticism was slightly down from earlier years, increased space and decreased size helps strong players and gives penetrators more vertical options when approaching the rim, something that LeBron's always had great feel for. Slimming down also helped, and while his defensive motor wasn't quite as high as it used to be, he could still switch 1-5 when needed (and the lack of traditional post play during those years meant he could use his improved intellect to scram out poorer matchups and take more stands at the hoop / chasedowns in transition (and if you look at his block rate per 100 possessions, those 2-3 years are the highest for him since his first Cleveland stint). Offensively speaking, I think this, along with Miami Bron (at least, in the minutes without Wade) has a great argument as the most complete version of LeBron (while first Cleveland Bron was the most athletic, Miami Bron was the best defender, and LA Bron is the best passer). Great vid! I love this sort of X's & O's analysis, and you're one of the absolute best at it imo! I hope we get more throwback content like this in the future.

[@KimWe-a-xler]

Thank you for saying this. ❤

[@KimWe-a-xler]

Cant agree more

[@8ealer]

The main reason those Toronto teams couldn't do much against LeBron is because they didn't have big physical defenders they could assign to constantly disturb him and through of the rhythm. It is so apparent that LeBron was physically chilling against them which allowed him to just play around and have fun which he certainly did.

[@HoopVenue]

100%, and to be fair there were only a few defenders, if that, who could actually bother this version of LeBron.

[@SULLY937]

@@HoopVenue Kawhi Leonard

[@Anthonydu01630]

Siakam, OG Annunoby, Ibaka, Valanciunas, even Kyle Lowry are all big and/or lenghty at their position, if they had Tatum and Brown it would have been the same, this Lebron scored 51 pts in game 1 against the KD Warriors, this Lebron basically averaged a 34ppg triple double in his 2 finals against the KD Warriors, this Lebron averaged 3stealq and 3 blocks in the last 3 games of the 2016 Finals, and even in 2020 he averaged basically a 30ppg triple double on 59%fg, i repeat, 59%fg against the HEAT, even in 2020 he had better stats than Jokic in the finals against the same team, and Jokic had an all time offensive playoffs run and finals, so that 2015-2020 Lebron was really a monster offensively, especially in 2018.

[@MiddleClassNaPobre]

@@Anthonydu01630like what opposing coaches said, let lebron and lock other players 😂

[@kennn30]

Bro nobody had an answer for him, he lost in the Finals but we all know he was outmatched by a stacked Warriors team.

[@Clear256]

Let's go! Fantastic breakdown

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Jaylen Brown your next video Hoop Venue 🤣😂🤣🤣🤣

[@SULLY937]

12:29-12:40 perfect example of a Chameleon or should i say LeChameleon 🤣

[@SULLY937]

0:43 💀

[@Just2GdTobiTrue]

LeFadeAway James 👑🤝🏾

[@kunmioriade6324]

Lebron was just unconscious this series. OG as a rookie defended well, Brons offence was just ridiculous.

[@PWCDN]

Seriously though, how can you put a rookie up against one of two players considered GOAT. Poor coaching decision. if nobody else was good enough for the task, team lacked talent. Fast forward to a year later 2019, Kawhi guarded Giannis and turned the whole series around. Unfair the vets didn't step up to take on the challenge, all scared to guard LeBron. OG truly was a boy stepped up as a man.

[@richardtemple4557]

yes all you showed was game 2 where they had no answere and the series was over

[@KimWe-a-xler]

LeBron as short roller and elbow passer a la Jokic can be really scary.

[@KinGiliath4177]

I think that i you don't have a Ho level defensive player in these situations to match with HoF possible GOAT, LeBron there isn't much of what you can do, if the Raptors had Kawhi in these seasons before, i think that the history could be different, but that's just me daydreaming, but i still remember some off these games in the LeBronto era, and LeBron just look like he was playing 'gainst a high school team, that's nuts

[@bigpapibigbrrrrr]

Great content, u deserve a lot more subscribers!

[@gregoryburton1241]

That was really comprehensive. Learned more in these 14 minutes, than I have watching a whole season. Thank you.

[@atalleryand2431]

Basically Jokic this offseason but more efficient... how does he only have 4 rings?

[@Soosss]

Luck, mostly. If he were drafted to Detroit with the #1 pick instead of the cavs, those pistons would’ve likely dominated the 2000s. Instead he was stuck on a bottom feeder org until he went to Miami

[@PWCDN]

He didn't have 4 rings because he made everyone jealous by carving his own fate and Durant had to do the same with a 72 win Warriors team. That's like Barkley joining Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

[@ryankayombya7576]

3 things. 1.Cause the 2nd and 3rd best players in the world decided to team up. KD joined a 73-9 team loll. 2. Also he has had terrible injury luck. When has MJ's 2nd and 3rd best player been injured in the same Finals series 3. Dynastic opponents. Faced the Spurs Dynasty twice (the first time when he was only 22) and then the Warriors Dynasty 4 times lol. (lastly he chocked once)

[@Zaghzackio]

​@@PWCDNmore like Hakeem and the Rocketsz just not when he was old and boutta retire like what happened irl

[@benjiemelendres2412]

Because theres no kawhi in that time

[@truthseeker8139]

Well he benefited from friendly referees.