The TRUTH About LeBron's First Finals Run!

Both podcast episodes!
EP.8 - • Getting Ratio'd On Twi...
EP.9 - • What Percentage Of Peo...
Sixers series EP.17 - • Season 3! - NBA2K21 Ne...
MyGM Channel - • 2K21 Next Gen Sixers M...
2020 Documentary - • A Recap Of The Weirdes...
Patreon! - / rustybuckets
My editors channel - / hustlepoints
Follow me on twitter- / rustybuckets321
film channel - / @idkfilms2945
------------------Music Credits--------------------------------------------
LAKEY INSPIRED - Reminisce
• Video
/ reminisce
LAKEY INSPIRED - Last Night
• Video
/ lakeyinspired
LAKEY INSPIRED - Better Days
• LAKEY INSPIRED - Bette...
/ better-days
intro Song: Unknown Brain - MATAFAKA (feat. Marvin Divine) [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.
Watch: • Unknown Brain - MATAFA...
Download/Stream: ncs.io/MATAFAKA
#NBA #LeBronJames #Cavaliers

[@rustybuckets]

If Harden gets traded right after I drop this I'm gonna be pissed Both podcast episodes! EP.8 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmS0cpWurriKmsU EP.9 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/n36sf3hroqZ7q6M Sixers series EP.17 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpirf6ZjqsinoK8

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

Prepare to get pissed

[@PretentiousFish]

Moments captured right before disasters occurred.

[@darioncharles3439]

I was first to text ahh

[@II55555]

I think LeBron is the GOAT dont @ me, Better overall player and mj played plumbers as well LeBron played superteams

[@ryderyoshitake5070]

Lmao get pissed

[@klaythompson3457]

If he had Klay Thompson on his team, he would have won it all

[@TheShapeshifter]

ehhh no

[@kevinsmith138]

He’d at least catch a couple of games

[@fryphilip7474]

This would be true for 95% of players

[@kefkapalazzo1]

Idk man lol rest of the warriors ain’t it

[@klaythompson3457]

@@TheShapeshifter I mean it would be, Klay Thompson is literally the perfect player to have beside Lebron, especially back then when he didn’t really have a three point shot

[@spacerace1448]

Now lebrons 2018 PLAYOFF run to the finals. THAT was a straight up carry job

[@juju-vl7oj]

Yea some people think because Love was on the team that it wasn't. But that was one of the top 5 worst rosters to ever make a finals. Some other low talent finals teams at least top 5 defense like 07 Cavs.

[@user-ou5pm6gn9j]

still through a weak conference. Plus Kevin love was on and off and it was Lebron's fault for trading everyone away.

[@puwinsowanri3427]

Has a shitty competition in the east tho ngl

[@puwinsowanri3427]

Has a shitty competition in the east tho ngl

[@user-ou5pm6gn9j]

@@juju-vl7oj wasn't that Lebron's fault tho?

[@UncleJrueForTue]

2007 Cavs were good defensively. Offensively, they were present.

[@MineShackle]

They were amazing defensively

[@capitanawesome44]

Top five defensive team. Similar to the team AI took to the finals that also had Eric Snow.

[@itbecamepersonal6718]

@@capitanawesome44 I was just about to say the same thing about AI

[@IllMatic97]

@@capitanawesome44 fuckin Eric snow. I swear

[@OH_MY_DOGGG]

@@IllMatic97 Nobody shoots midrange like Snow. Especially now.

[@henrywhite6553]

I think people reference Lebron’s 2007 season so much because that was when people realized how great he actually was gonna be for the first time. Especially at his age. By 2018 he had been to the finals like 8 years in a row people weren’t surprised even tho the degree of difficulty was higher.

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

It takes a MASSIVE level of balls to upload a video of this quality in the midst of all this James Harden shit.

[@nika1696]

Especially cause we know it’s gonna be invalidated in like 30 minutes with a harden trade

[@Conquistador76]

Rusty made like 20 videos about Harden. Rusty is tired. We’re all tired.

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

@@Conquistador76 well harden was just traded so prepare for a lot more of the Harden talk

[@Heart_ken01]

6:00 The 2001 Sixers was also a very great defensive team while Allen Iverson carried their piss poor offense. As a matter of fact this team also had Eric Snow and Mutumbo (who was the DPOY I believe)

[@DeshTheDirector]

Also had Aaron McKie who was the 6th a Man of the Year that season

[@danielqueiroz6723]

He carried them because the offense was built around him

[@tj5180]

@@danielqueiroz6723 he was inefficient and the team had no spacing

[@danielqueiroz6723]

@@tj5180 ik, i didnt say they were effective, just said facts

[@dstreet4599]

Yeah. Rusty even made a video about that.

[@kb4231]

Rusty out here risking his life

[@shxdow6405]

Why you gotta put the man on blast like that 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@musix3197]

@@shxdow6405 he's not wrong tho when you make a constructive criticism you're basically risking your life against LeBron worshippers lmao

[@shxdow6405]

@@musix3197 ofc he’s not wrong that’s what I meant it by 🤣🤣🤣🤣, I fw Bron but he ain’t the goat and yes I’m a die hard heat fan my G. You can’t speak facts bout Bron without getting called a hater bro Lowkey I don’t even defend LeBron James anymore cuz it’s tiring and people stuck on a narrative that’s been perpetuated by imbeciles like blind bayless and idiot Parker. Nick wright is the worst this guy really making arguments on why we should excuse 2011 like bruh Jason Terry who was a role player had more points then LeBron James for an entire series............there’s nothing to excuse about that 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤦‍♂️

[@1vaultdweller]

No one is crucifying Rusty. You all acting like Lebron fans are toxic as others when they aint

[@1vaultdweller]

@@shxdow6405 Kobe was outscored by Austin Croshere in 2000 Finals but you dont see anyone bring it in debates

[@BigBK34]

Imagine thinking Lebron James is a legitimate top 5 prospect 🤣🤣🤣

[@PretentiousFish]

Milicic was better don’t come at me

[@freakreacts7575]

@ Celtics hater why do u hate the celtics. theyr not like the lakers who buy everything out to win

[@PretentiousFish]

@@freakreacts7575 their fans are just as entitled though.

[@Heart_ken01]

Darko is my early ROTY ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@Injelotor]

@@Heart_ken01 pistons are winning 5 straight with him!

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

Did Rudy edit this? The editing quality was so much higher, how tf did he do this without missing a normal upload day???

[@Drogon7102]

Him making it on the podcast gave him motivation I guess.

[@rayfordreed9304]

Yesterday I thought Rusty said this was supposed to come out yesterday but Rudy needed extra time.

[@Drogon7102]

@@rayfordreed9304 if that's the case, it makes more sense as to why.

[@KOGOSTOMUS]

4:22 - "Then there was the shooting *trio* of Sasha Pavlovic, Donyell Marshell, & Damon Jones along with Daniel Gibson." That's 4 players my guy.

[@koga477]

prob one of them coming off the bench

[@calebcraven7409]

He'd already mentioned Gibson, he was more highlighting the first 3 he hadn't mentioned yet, you got the trio along with Gibson

[@DANtheMANofSIPA]

The trio, along with Gibson

[@tj5180]

Lebron played with role players and guys like big z and mo Williams who wouldnt be considered as all stars in todays nba. Big z never lived up to expectations but still good

[@Chickenpesto2468]

@@tj5180 Delonte west was solid to like that team wasn’t great but people act like it was awful

[@user-xr6zv2tz2f]

I agree! But I also think 2018 was his most impressive carry job. Especially in the post season, he was incredible.

[@bilindabutcher8913]

34 ppg, 9 assists, 4 turnovers, 9 rebounds, 62% true shooting

[@II55555]

Fr, needa keep the same energy, while mj played plumbers, bron played superteams and STILL went to the finals while mj got first rounded, like bruh, thats GOAT stuff

[@obeseblakegriffin6096]

Is this nigga serious?????

[@obeseblakegriffin6096]

Ofc someone would bring mj into this

[@colewrld901]

@@II55555 u really are a troll

[@jcsjay]

Stans don't understand logic so of course they're going to say its hate. To them anything outside of covert worship and praise is "hAtE".

[@comebackkid5976]

Exactly it is so annoying

[@anthonynorman7545]

Covert is the opposite of *overt* which is the word you're looking for

[@jcsjay]

@@anthonynorman7545 facts. Auto-correct. Thanks my guy.

[@anthonynorman7545]

@@jcsjay no problem

[@ohdfrosty9703]

You could say the same thing for the haters and Jordan stand

[@chinfy2994]

THANK YOUU!! I thought I was the only one who really thought that LeBron's 2018 performance was his best carry job

[@strang7739]

2017 and 2018 were disgusting

[@zxmegatronxz8472]

@@strang7739 what ?

[@geordiejones5618]

2015 and 2018 were better carry jobs but the 2007 run has Lebron's best game.

[@pepe9565]

@@geordiejones5618 Bron’s best game was game 1 on the 2018 finals where he dropped 51 on the Warriors with KD, that game he dominated and they were almost going to win it if JR Smith just made that final lay up. I’m still salty about that game cause it might have stretched the series into 6, if Cavs won that against a 5man all star team, that would have solidified Bron’s legacy. But I don’t think Cavs would win against THAT GSW team, it just would have been a better series if Cavs won that 1st game.

[@JC-po5zy]

@@pepe9565 he should’ve took the last shot he was being guarded by curry at the top of the key 1v1 and decided to pass to George hill

[@AnxiousJoe]

Had to do a double take when I heard “Drew Gooden” lmao

[@ayyyayay]

time stamp?

[@ayyyayay]

oh wait no i was thinking of the commentary youtuber "drew gooden" not the nba player lol

[@HaitiSpaceAgency]

Me too “Oh yeah, that guy was person wasn’t he”

[@yahyarajaee5883]

2018 playoffs was LeBron at his most balanced and mature state in my opinion. He didn't have Kyrie and he did absolutely everything all by himself. His peak was in Heat because he had help and could amaze people. With the Cavs, he focused on getting results rather than putting on a show.

[@erikpuka2627]

He could play defense in 2013. He couldn't in 18. A lot of those games vs Warriors was close but due to his inability to guard an empty room they lost.Harden won 3 playoff games games vs that Warriors team and had CP3 not gotten hurt - he might win it all. Ad won 1 also vs GSW with Rondo as his 2nd option. Manu Ginobli without Kawhi or Parker won 1 vs the 18' Warriors too in round 1. Next year in rd 1 the Danillo Galinari led Clippers won 2 vs the sane Warriors. Bron with the help he had -got to getvyou at least 1 win.

[@hazmat9]

Nah the Cavs defense got better in that playoffs. I watched game 6 vs Boston and the buzzer against Toronto. LeBron himself improved

[@eciohc75]

This was like the AI run in the playoffs. AI was surrounded by defenders who can't really score.

[@bobbysmoove4796]

Exactly. Not a bad team, only bad offensively but had really good defense

[@pupsymus]

Last time I was this early I had a job instead of depression.

[@jasonokpala2147]

Sorry dude

[@pupsymus]

@@jasonokpala2147

[@MoonMoon-bj9jr]

Keep your head up king

[@pupsymus]

Thank you kings for the kind words.

[@bepe4279]

get better man. Depression sucks

[@hardybryan]

People remember the 2007 Finals more fondly because he was 22. I agree the 2018 run was way more impressive as an accomplishment outside that context.

[@killerfoxes2909]

Yeah, but ....like....Iverson made the finals in a similarly weak conference. Dwight did 2 years after this. Like...that Eastern conference outside of 04-06 was so bad, with at most one real contender. (04-06 had 2-3 depending on what year you are talking about)

[@sri-kaushalramana437]

a lot of fans also remember it because of the 25 straight point game against Detroit since that all they know about his 2007 run and that they made the finals. they don't know about how bad the competition was to get there or that he shot below 40% in half of the games

[@MJM_23]

Amazing video glad I saw it before you posted the nets trade and lost it so had to come back and like hopefully it gets exposure

[@TmiroAlitura]

Great video rusty! Please do more vids like this one, with the stats a stuff. :) Also good job on the editing, it was rlly nice Rudy.

[@Afric808]

2018 run was hella sad to watch 😭 Lebron and JR vs Steph,KD,Klay,Draymond and Iguoadala

[@kingdre676]

So you go exit out all star Kevin love who avg 20ppg and 11rpg in 2018 finals

[@zukoshonor2457]

@@kingdre676 that 20 ppg was on 40% fg shooting and 32% from the 3 point line. Points don't help that much when ur scoring that inefficiently, just take a look at Russell Westbrook

[@MasterCombatant]

I’m so glad that I got into basketball in time to see LeBron’s 2018 playoff run. That was an amazing introduction for my NBA fan hood. Thanks LeBron.

[@willhelm94]

Awesome video Rusty! Only got into nba in 2019 so this history is great to listen to.

[@TheAnimeDon]

Agent 0 looks like he’s crying in that picture😂😂

[@djteq9]

3rd year going to the finals impressive enough for me.

[@bobbysmoove4796]

4th but still impressive

[@kingdre676]

@@bobbysmoove4796 dwade and Kawhi won finals mvp in their 3rd year

[@kingdre676]

Dwade and Kawhi won finals mvp in their 3rd year

[@resurrectedpa]

He's not saying it's unimpressive. He's just saying it's not as good as people exaggerate it to be. Still LBJ GOATed ngl

[@johncena4096]

@@kingdre676 kawhi was drafted to Spurs with 3 HOF and pop, wade had par riley and shaq which he was still good that year

[@Alexander-ru3qc]

Rusty always talks about recent memory Bias while this whole video doing exactly that

[@luisbanegas23]

Damn Rusty you weren't lying when you said this was one of your best vids in a while, as always this was a great video

[@robertwood8998]

Man, if I didn’t watch this whole video I would’ve called u crazy, good vid, I love when people shine light on things in nba history that r usually seen as indisputable

[@killerfoxes2909]

.....I don't know, learn moe about basketball bro. If you needed a video to completely change your mind, than your indisputable opinion was a poor one. Also tells me that the only people thining it was indistuble are all under like...24? How old you gotta be to not have watched that run? Nobody who watched it thought it was great. We all knew anyone coming out the East was gonna get smoked because the East was terrible that year.

[@EmmanuelAniTheSchism]

If they had the other Drew Gooden they would've won it all.

[@tmac731]

Lebron lovers bash MJ for being 1-9 in the first round but it was 1 allstar vs 4 all stars. Meanwhile they want us to feel sorry for him losing in the finals to the Warriors/Spurs because it was 4 Allstars vs 1.

[@wowowow1578]

4 all stars is an understatement the gsw 2017 2018 had 5 hall of famers and the spurs had 3 hall of famers they were also coached by the second greatest coach of all time

[@colewrld901]

Facts LeBron fans hate logic

[@tmac731]

@@wowowow1578 dude shut up. 2017 Warriors did not have 5 hall of famers.

[@tmac731]

@@karanveerdhillon7867 yea the Warriors teams Lebron faces are better than the teams jordan faced in the finals but what team did Lebron beat in the playoffs that’s better than 86 Celtics? 89 Pistons? 93 Knicks? 96 magic? You can’t name one becaue Lebron beat a 60 win hawks team with 0 all nba players. Lebron had a cakewalk

[@Injelotor]

@@tmac731 just agree that MJ had a harder path to the finals but Lebron had tougher final opponents

[@RenzoAguas]

I always your your content! Amazing video Rusty!

[@gediminaskucinskas6952]

You could have mentioned 2001 76-ers as also an example of the team where a star carries the team offensively and the team gets called a jobbers while in reality that was a really good defense team that heavily relied on AI for scoring.

[@fortynights1513]

He did another video about Iverson. Coincidentally enough, both had Eric Snow.

[@ger.m.a.ngiant1644]

I thought I was gonna be pissed because I'm a LeBron James fan but, you had your reasoning and research on your conclusion, I respect that highly.

[@mike-gn1wi]

Can you please make a video about Ben Wallace? I feel like he is so underrated despite being the best defender of all time.

[@DwayneIsKing]

Damn. You brought back hella NBA memories with that '07 Cavs roster

[@hiphopotamus69]

Call me crazy but I think it’s because the 2007 Cavs had a few key players who weren’t from the US with obviously non-English last names and most American basketball fans just assume they were scrubs

[@Zamppa86]

So basically the 2007 run by Cavs is pretty much the same with the 2001 run by 76ers! Both teams had solid role players and good to very good defense but only one real offensive option. The big difference between the two just is that Iverson did actually play good to his standards in the finals and was actually able to help his team to win a game while LeBron just...Well played pretty badly.

[@dr.dragonballz4865]

The pistons didn’t have Ben Wallace people forget bout dat

[@colewrld901]

Facts LeBron dominated the paint against the pistons because of that

[@aw7519]

Still doesn't change the fact that they were the one of best defensive team that season. 2nd in opponents points per game, 7th in defensive rating.

[@youtubeburr]

And they had a washed chris webber to fill in for him

[@THE_BEAR_JEW]

@@aw7519 Yeah but to be fair Ben Wallace was the only one on that team who could defend LeBron, so their rating was irrelevant. That series proved the Cleveland was just as great (if not better) defensively, and they proved it again in the Finals vs the Spurs.

[@colewrld901]

@@youtubeburr yep a old washed up injury riddled chris Webber who played horrible defense by that point 😂

[@JackPetosa]

Damn bruh 20 minute video from rusty 💯

[@Kikibrat2]

Here per request on the 76s video. You’re right, this did not pop up on my feed. Rudy and you deserve better 👌🏾.

[@Professional_Dirtbag_Hippie]

The 2007 finals was the Spurs vs the Suns

[@MoccasinJay]

SPIT-NO-JUTSU 🏀

[@ultritlagg4000]

Bro what?

[@iisaii]

It hurts to watch 2018 lebron playoff highlights knowing what happened in game 1 of the finals 😔

[@DevonRucker]

As a cavs fan since 90 I'll say that first finals team is underrated.

[@sockot.751]

Me: sees a video about Lebron James 2007 finals run Oh shit, we're talking about the Spurs today!

[@yunan9610]

2018 was an impressive carry job. I would expect the Celtics or the Raptors to beat them, yet they didn't

[@jetroeribal1539]

If only Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier hit their 3s in game 7. They were like 2/20 combined in the 3.

[@has3219]

why would the celtics beat them? They were without the two guys they got specifically to take them over the top?! You expected a bunch of rookies to beat lebron? Raptors flail out every playoffs they got swept by the wizards and then got beat down by the cavs 3 years in a row. They always had trouble in the playoffs even against bad teams like the bucks and pacers that they should have beat handily yet almost lost in both of those series.

[@Yvp13]

@@has3219 they were up 3-2 at one point so, yea, I think it would make sense to think they would beat them

[@Professional_Dirtbag_Hippie]

The only series that was impressive was the Pistons series. Sorry, that Pistons series was incredible, but this is one of weakest eastern conferences we’ve ever seen.

[@leultrainstinct406]

He had to face 2 all time greats in the semifinals too: Jason Kidd and Vince carter.

[@Heart_ken01]

@@leultrainstinct406 They weren't superstars then (hell Kidd was never a superstar) and that team just wasn't good

[@MrSJB-ue1sd]

@UCgljIWbtYEv6Q2su6Q0K27A lmao you're an idiot jason kidd was in the finals two times and he's a top 5 pg of all time. Foh they just can't stop LeBron

[@killerfoxes2909]

@@MrSJB-ue1sd yes, that 40-42 team. Everyone knows teams with losing records are great teams. That's why I know the Sixers win over the Wizards this year was really the most impressive win in teh playoffs. After all, there was Westbrook and Beal. So they must be a good team by your logic. Well done 2021 Sixers. Well done.

[@killerfoxes2909]

@Fries 94 Rockets, I'd argue 95 Rockets, and if winning the finals is not a requirement than 89 Bulls, who were a 6th seed who made it to the ECF where they won the only 2 games the Detroit Pistons lost in that entire playoffs. I'm tempted to put 98 Bulls too....but I know people are still delusional about how good that Bulls team was. Jordan carried them. Go look at Pippen and Rodman's stats in the ECF and Finals if you don't believe me. If I had to rank "carry jobs" though, I'd go 1. Hakeem in either of those years. I guess I think 95 is more impressive even though he had Clyde the Glyde. His stats were just so unreal. 2. Dwyane Wade in 06. Shaq was not really Shaq any more, and he was seriously playing like a role player in the finals. 3. This one is so freaking hard, I'm thinking Duncan 03 then Lebron 18, then Jordan 89...but....I'm gonna go with a surprise out of left field. Kawhi Leonard 2019. Was Kawhi that great in the Finals? No. However, he against the Sixers, seriously was like...playing alone some of the time, and I guess I think when comparing to say LeBron 18....the Sixers and Bucks, and Warriors were just all better teams than anyone LeBron beat. And Jordan lost in the ECF...and Duncan, hmmm, I need to rewatch that finals run...maybe it should be 3...im not sure

[@mickyickysticky4730]

Same with AI in his MVP season , he CARRIED their offense but their defense was still pretty good

[@wilt7505]

There defense was elite, with DPOY Dikembe cookie monster Mutombo

[@mickyickysticky4730]

@@wilt7505 big facts

[@bpdmf2798]

The only thing that I really remember well from that first finals (I was just out of high school and watched them with friends and we were drinking) was late in I think the last game there was like a minute or 2 left and the Cavs backs were against the wall and everybody expected "the chosen one" to do so magical crap like he did vs Detroit in the previous series and he gets the ball on an inbounds pass and looks up the court like "it's my time to start the 0-3 comeback that will jumpstart my legacy" and he dribbled the ball off his foot out of bounds and that pretty much sealed the game because the Spurs killed more clock and scored. My friends and I were like "well that's why there's only 1 Michael Jordan" and remember that this wasn't too far removed from Jordan' last finals and he retired only a few years earlier and his impact was till fresh in our young minds because he was THE guy for us in our school years.

[@marcoseverini5287]

People are gonna be so hurt by this 😂😂😂

[@CamLuck]

Watching you go through the roster and speak to each player just reminded me HOW TRASH this roster was.

[@legendarywiimaster]

Bruh I read off that 2007 roster and there were six players that I’ve never heard of. I’m convinced they never existed

[@henryohse1]

a great defensive roster was fine for lebron, but that doesnt discount that he carried at all IMO. like yeah they helped out a good amount on the defensive end, but without him there how many games can they win with excellent defense and no offense? a near complete carry on one end, along with significant impact on the other, is carrying.

[@FAlynn92]

6:34 I miss that squad. hard to believe it's been 10 years already

[@PassivesAbseits]

Here is something to consider: With 50 Wins the Cavs would have gotten the 6th seed in the West. Meaning: They would have played the 3rd Seed, which were... The San Antonio Spurs. So we can all take a wild guess, how far LeBron would have carried this team in a competitive conference...

[@nitereeper7248]

Bro at that point I wasn’t even conceived lmao

[@railenherman6482]

That 2018 carry job has gotta be a Top 5 accomplishment in Lebron’s career.

[@justinyan7938]

Lebron's 2018 playoff run as an INDIVIDUAL in my humble opinion, is the best playoff performance in NBA history

[@ivan_the_iman]

cant wait for the Harden trade video 😏

[@xlivegeneration2681]

3:45 Lebron crying that he finally has hair

[@king_laws]

You should do another video about this Maybe do a controversial mvp season for someone

[@kingod7221]

Ray Allen saved him for going 1-4 in Miami. That’s not hate it’s fact. I understand that Lebron went on a tear in the 4th quarter, but he missed the shot to put them up. Bosh got the rebound and Ray hit that awesome shot. If Ray would have missed the shot, the only thing we would be talking about would be LBJ missing the game winning shot. No hate just facts. Yes LBJ got them back in the game and went on a tear he missed the most important shot.

[@brandonyoder5097]

Tbh my biggest gripe is that you said no one was saying curry > lebron when the cavs were going at it. That simply wasnt true in the 2016 regular season. There were a lot of people saying curry > lebron and were also saying curry was the new face of the league

[@controversialmann5345]

Bron put a stop to that

[@danielboyce191]

Wasn’t joakim Noah injured for half the season during d rose mvp year

[@hoodiorr3944]

This was a great video. Too bad no ones gonna see it😔

[@suto5704]

Love the video

[@morrellhouston]

Haven’t clicked on a video faster in my life😂😂😂

[@darioncharles3439]

Fr i was first tho

[@yourface591]

WhY yOu HaTiNg On BrOn

[@user-se7td9be6o]

Fr

[@1212rusty]

U act like thats not a legitimate question to ask

[@yourface591]

@@1212rusty the man literally said in the first minute that in the history of basketball there is only one person that even has an argument for being better than him. If that’s “hate” you have a pretty low bar what constitutes “hate”. Being critical of other people’s assessment of one of his achievements is not “hate”

[@yourface591]

@Requiem I feel like he’s more so talking about the real outspoken ones that refuse to accept ANY criticism of Lebron. And unfortunately that’s large group

[@FoxyChariot]

@@yourface591 I think Kobe is better personally but somehow that’s an unpopular opinion

[@dougtaylor1910]

You have the benefit of hindsight. People who support the 07 argument actually watched the series as it was happening and was stuck in awe after the performance. It’s a “you gotta be there” type of argument to actually understand why people are stuck on 2007. Just like how people are gonna be stuck on the overcoming a 3-1 deficit forever. Nothing will ever top the “wow” of that moment

[@Abbad1579]

I watched that 2007 run. Outside of game 5 against the pistons, nothing he did was super impressive. 2018 on the other hand was a whole other level. In 2018 LeBron was doing god like things.

[@mdfan2995]

This needed to be said

[@younggoat5066]

all this just to say i needed more help

[@mkmllrc]

dont worry LeHELP is coming, we gonna make the most stacked bench and add another star

[@youtubeburr]

LeBron’s competition that year 1st round: Bad wizards team with no gilbert Conference semis: Old nets team that was hanging on to relevancy by a thread Conference finals: washed up pistons with no big ben Lebron’s only real challenge in 2007 WAS THE SPURS

[@II55555]

And Jordans only competition were Plumbers and Larry "Defensive Liability" Bird your point?

[@youtubeburr]

@@II55555 lol shut up. Man’s said plumbers you must be 13. Do your homework and get off KZbin.

[@_M3WTW0_]

Old nets team? I don't think they were that old my guy.

[@youtubeburr]

@@_M3WTW0_ there stars were old kidd was 33 vince aged bad because of injuries

[@sarcasm3605]

@@II55555 Larry bird was a monster in the passing lanes and had a very high defensive IQ and motor. Stick to school

[@fizzyfuzz5878]

Nice deep dive on that season. I see it differently now. LeBron even had that 2018-19 team in position to win game one of the Finals on the road! But he couldn't even count on a teammate to remember the score.

[@jhdivina]

3:43 this is an image i never knew i needed to see: lebron with varejao's hair lol

[@MoccasinJay]

if Lebron had his team in the West in the 2007, 2014, 2018 seasons, he doesn’t make the finals but that also would lower his finals record too... W on both sides of the argument (4-6 record that people use vs the 8 straight finals argument)

[@codyjames5753]

But he didn’t so shut up

[@jayson1013]

He wouldn’t have his team in the finals every time he lost the finals (besides 15)

[@MoccasinJay]

@@codyjames5753 u stay mad😉

[@killerfoxes2909]

Maybe in 2011 too, the West was stacked that year, and the problems that happened against the Mavs may have been revealed earlier if he'd been in the West. Also maybe 2015...after all we are assuming Kyrie and K-Love are still injured right? Then they definatily not beating any freaking team in teh West in that scenario to get to the Finals. They had the miserable ass Hawks that year is the only reason tehy made the finals. Heck if the PG Pacers from 2014 and been time traveled to 2015, they probably wouldn't have made the Finals.

[@killerfoxes2909]

@@codyjames5753 ....Why you so mad bro? Go back to shining your statue of LeBron. It will be okay. Shhh shhh

[@dudelittle147]

I can agree even as a big lebron fan

[@donovannelson8443]

2018 was a much better carry job than 2007, but I think the you underrated the Pistons a little bit, and Lebron had a large part in them being great defensive team. Replace him with a SF with his offensive skill set with average defense they would’ve been just a good defensive team. And Lebron’s numbers going down in 2007 makes sense cause he was the only offensive player

[@naitsguitars3384]

I think we forget how good the spurs were in 07. Two truths can be told . Cavs were a good not great team spurs were an awesome team . It does explain the sweep .

[@YungLanxx]

2018 was a bigger carry job than 2007 but the 07 run was not overrated, the man was 22 years old with an extremely limited offensive team, that’s automatically ridiculously great no matter how you spin it...

[@rigobertogallardo9850]

Again not really. No ones denying that it was impressive, but it’s just not as impressive as it’s made out by his stans

[@DanDan-jb1cx]

@@rigobertogallardo9850 how ?

[@precisism1804]

@@DanDan-jb1cx You’re already here, watch the video.

[@DanDan-jb1cx]

@@precisism1804 the video is bs and come off as hating that's why I ask vortex

[@precisism1804]

@@DanDan-jb1cx Clearly your judgment of the video came from a place of bias. If you can’t see how this video objectively presents the facts, and then even goes on to praise LeBron then Idk what to tell you man.

[@snakesupreme]

His # 2 option was a guy they called “Boobie”

[@nikosvault]

8 players on that Cavs team had a higher ppg than Gibson.

[@m.j.w.2876]

Boobie actually closed out that Detroit series

[@snakesupreme]

@@m.j.w.2876 he sure did then after that ???lol

[@m.j.w.2876]

@@snakesupreme that series goes to GM 7 if Gibson doesn't come thru

[@epicexperiment7713]

I can’t imagine LeBron was once young. (Yeah I m a kid) but I still watched 90s to 00s games

[@piedpiped3267]

I love this team. It is Lebron at his Athletic peak surrounded by shooters and a 7’3 silent beast in Illgauskis (didn’t bother to look up the correct spelling). I love taking this team and putting an all star caliber 2000s point guard on this team such as J Kidd, Nash, or Cp3. and doing a myleague on the latest 2k because big Z is a 2 way post god, there are plenty of shooters, and Shannon Browns animations make him a cheat code on offense.

[@benjihuynh2970]

I don't remember the Cavs getting "crushed." I know they got swept, but weren't almost all the games pretty close?

[@killerfoxes2909]

Hmm, it was a different era. The first two games were by around 10 points, which...were crushing losses for that time. Being down by 10...like in the fourth quarter was enough for the game to be over. The latter two games were close though...but...I watched it. It just felt like the Spurs were gonna win. It wasn't like....watching a modern game where somebody could hit a 3 and suddenly the tide would turn. Brutal defensive standoffs rarely have sudden miracle come backs.

[@iansanchez966]

Games 3 & 4 were decided by a total of 4 points. Maybe with some luck, Cleveland picks off one game. They were never winning that series, though. Spurs knew how to put a stranglehold on their opponent. The Cavs broke 90 points once, and averaged 80.5 as a team for the series.

[@karmanmann369]

Can you talk about Dwights 09 run.

[@SinserNarmah537]

He had a Squad..

[@shamus248]

Dwight was armed to the teeth with shooters for the last 3-4 years of his Orlando days

[@kingdre676]

banks lebron had a squad

[@thedarklord8770]

Should be called Hedo Turkoglu's 2009 run

[@LegitDalton]

Yo the mic quality is insane what did you do

[@joshuajohnson9170]

Yo😂😂 when you said that shit about how the pistons woulda got bitch slapped too oh man I cracked up

[@paypastackz2g328]

The 07 series of the pistons went 6 games dude and boobie scored 31 how do you not know this

[@zacharybertram1438]

Wrong. it was a six game series. The series was closed out game 6 in Cleveland

[@kingdre676]

@@zacharybertram1438 but Gibson drop 31 in game 6 tho

[@Abbad1579]

It went 6

[@paypastackz2g328]

@@Abbad1579 gibson scored 31

[@Abbad1579]

@@paypastackz2g328 Ye I know

[@joshleonard2347]

This is BLASPHEMY!!! HOW DARE YOU DIMINISH LEBRONS LEGACY!!! Nah I’m just playing, I really enjoyed your insight on this topic. This was a solid video!

[@ericberry3667]

Imma hear what you have to say Rusty. I’m sure it’s valid. I haven’t revisited this run since it happened when I was middle school lad!.... fair enough.. 2018 finals was def more impressive. Good shit bruh 😎

[@dopeman4ever]

I never did it before but since ppl always bring up how the heat thunder final was closer than it looked. I just check and game 4 and 5 were close in 2007 and Lebron had 10+ pts in both 4th qrts.

[@drehitemup9904]

I thought it was unanimous that LeBron just got lucky with a shit conference

[@killerfoxes2909]

lol, you have clearly never talked to a lebron-stan lol. They will overrate every single one of LeBron's opponents while somehow simultaenously bringing up Jordan's opponents all being scrubs [even though that isn't the topic at hand lol]

[@BenTalksSports]

Even though the East was easier that season just to get to the finals with that roster is why Lebron is top 2 all time also I started making NBA content as well😬

[@donovanmitchell5920]

LBJ the goat keep up the 🔥 content bro

[@jaytheactivist8520]

That roster was great defensively tbh, like AI’s team

[@elizahamilton2895]

@@donovanmitchell5920 LBJ not the goat

[@daddiwes6687]

And he’s not 2💪🏾 u forgot dat

[@nbabackcourtmedia]

@@donovanmitchell5920 I don’t think so

[@michaelmontgomery4048]

Don’t know why this came across my feed but I’m glad it did. A subjective take on Lebron without any hate. You definitely earned a subscribe from me.

[@meep7895]

can you make a video on the vince carter nets i never hear anyone talk about that team

[@mcgaming8982]

Remember when Bron couldn’t make a jump shot

[@djteq9]

And now he shooting 38% from 3 this year . #growth

[@StephonMaple]

Rusty can we get a why Lebron is undoubtedly better then Kevin Durant

[@randomrocketsfan3298]

He doesn’t need to make a video on that. Most people already agree with that statement

[@II55555]

He doesnt need to, he needs to talk about how underrated LeBrons 2018 run was and how mj got first rounded 3x but he wont cuz he a bulls fan.

[@noahamankwaah9802]

@@II55555 You have something against MJ, don't you?

[@chesssse6607]

I see you forgot about 2001 76ers with AI carry offense with a really good defense behind him

[@lukebbuff]

I think the thing that makes 2007 seem more impressive than 2018 is that since the Celtics and then Heat "Big Three" teams we've gotten used to the idea that contending teams have multiple stars (usually 2 top 15 players or 3+ top 30 players). I'm doing some analysis to see if this is true but I'm guessing that the 2007 team has close to the worst 2nd and 3rd guys statistically of any finals team in the LeBron era. You are definitely right that we undervalue defense, especially team defense, but to fans our age and younger its just hard to imagine a contending team without 2 All-NBA level guys. The only modern examples that come close tend to involve high octane offenses and bad defenses, not the other way around (like some of the Harden Lead teams.)

[@lukebbuff]

I did run the numbers and looked at the second and third best players on every finals team since 2003 by VORP. Big Z is the worst "second guy" in that time period. The third guy (Donyell Marshall according to VORP but could be Gooden or Hughes - doesn't matter) was worse than all but three other teams: 2018 Cavs, 2020 Lakers, and 2020 Heat. The combined VORP for 2nd and 3rd is the lowest by a decent margin and the only teams that are close other than 2018 Cavs are the 2003 Spurs, and the 2006 Heat which had declining megastars in Robinson and Shaq which made them at least seem better to casual viewers. These results didn't look like they would change much if you picked another composite metric or extended the analysis out to 5 players either. In other words, you are probably right that 2007 isn't as impressive as people make it out but there was still no team in recent memory that made the finals with less star power beyond their #1 player.

[@Azariah-Israel]

Not Knocking Bron for Losing in the finals bc Pop Exploited his weaknesses and he could’ve played better but his Path to the Finals was Weak Asf

[@zairestubblefield3455]

you try going on that finals run with that team🤡🤡🤡

[@nika1696]

Ah yes I’m sure 6’3 Jacob from NC could carry an NBA team like a 6’9 human specimen

[@rustybuckets]

maybe I will

[@colewrld901]

Not that difficult if u replace LeBron with Jordan Kobe bird dwade Kareem. That finals run had alot of mediocre teams. Wizards nets pistons with no Ben Wallace

[@shadyboy5090]

@@colewrld901 Still that Pistons team was still hard.

[@vihaankadarla7734]

stop being a idiot thats like saying you cant critize Danny green cause you cant even beat him in a one one one

[@coolbreeze369jc]

A.I in 01’ was a carry job as well

[@Coreyy12]

Rusty woke up feelin dangerous 💀