After winning his fourth championship in more of a floor general role, it’s time to review each series the Toronto Raptors and LeBron James battled against each other and see the various styles LeBron had.
Whether you like him or not, there is no arguing that LeBron James is one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen. As Toronto Raptors fans, we got to be a victim of his greatness far too many times. For three straight years, no matter how good the Raptors were, the same obstacle was in the way.
But always in vastly different shapes. What I mean by that is the style of play he had in every series was different. The 2016 LeBron is in no way the same shape or player he was in 2017 or 2018. He dominated the paint in 2016 like no other, while in 2017 he was as lethal from outside the paint.
There’s much more to it, and we’ll review all three series of the infamous “LeBronto” era. Commencing with the first one in 2016.
The “interior minister” beats Toronto Raptors in 6 games in 2016
This was actually the longest series of the three despite LeBron being an unstoppable force around the rim. For LeBron, his defenders looked like traffic cones and he got everything he wanted. Going to the rim at will, where 61 percent of his shots were taken at an insane rate of 82 percent.
LeBron statline in 2016 vs Raptors – 24.6 PTS/8 REB/6.8 AST/2.2 STL/63.2 FG%
LeBron would take Games 1 & 2 in dominating fashion until there was a brief moment of belief for Toronto Raptors fans when they were able to take two games at home; tying the series at 2-2 apiece.
After the failure of having any impact outside the paint in the first four games for LeBron and the Raptors doing a better job of clogging the paint. This is when LeBron’s outside shot finally came to life. LeBron found his shooting rhythm and it sealed the Raptors fate for good after having no answer for that and losing Games 5 & 6 in upsetting fashion.
Toronto Raptors review
On paper, this seemed like probably the weakest Raptors roster to face LeBron James. It was the only team to actually win games against the Cavs nonetheless. The play of DeMar DeRozan who had himself one of his better series averaging 23 points with an efficiency of 50 percent from the field and 90.9 percent from the free throw.
Kyle Lowry also played really well, but besides them, they had no help. Guys like DeMarre Carroll, Patrick Patterson, Bismack Biyombo, and a 35-year-old Luis Scola as a starter was never going to get them past LeBron. It’s a miracle that both Lowry and DeRozan even snatched two games here.
Hyper-Efficient LeBron James sweeps Toronto Raptors in 2017
The most complete LeBron James the LeBronto era has seen. There isn’t one thing he couldn’t do. With an effective field goal rate of 66 percent and his frequency of shots at the rim dropping to 42 percent from 61, this was a version of LeBron who scored from all over the place.
LeBron statline in 2017 vs Raptors- 36 PTS/8 REB/5 AST/1.3 STL/57.3 FG%/48.8 3P%
He still maintained an insane efficiency at the rim at 80 percent, it was just on way fewer attempts. He shot 42 percent from long mid as well as almost 49 percent from three on 7 attempts per game. LeBron made averaging 36 points for the series look easy with his elite efficiency.
His one weakness, free throws, where he shot 67.4 percent that season wasn’t even a weakness. On 13.5 free throw attempts, LeBron shot 83.3 percent. If LeBron is hitting free throws, as well as his outside shots. There is absolutely nothing the Toronto Raptors could’ve done. He was invincible.
Toronto Raptors review
The Toronto Raptors did have a better team here compared to the previous season. The acquisition of Serge Ibaka and the emergence of Norman Powell helped but it ultimately wouldn’t matter. They still didn’t have an answer to LeBron James. They still had Carroll, tried with P.J Tucker, there was simply no answer.
In the end, the Raptors did get better but so did LeBron.
LeBron sweeps Toronto Raptors regardless of signs of looking mortal
The third and final LeBronto matchup was the one where most favored Toronto. After LeBron and the Cavs barely won a 7 game series against the Indiana Pacers with what was the weakest LeBron team since his return to Cleveland. It seemed as if this was the Raptors’ chance to finally beat him.
LeBron statline in 2018 vs Raptors – 34 PTS/8.3 REB/11.3 AST/1.8 STL/1 BLK
Against a less athletic LeBron — obviously still athletic but in LeBron standards less — the Toronto Raptors still couldn’t do it. This was the introduction of his post-up game as well as being the team’s floor general. The game was slowed down a lot more, LeBron played at his own tempo and it seemed like it was the most calculated LeBron.
Despite shooting awfully from three against Toronto at 18 percent, he shot the long mid-range at a staggering rate of 59 percent. His fadeaway off a post up was deadly in this series and couldn’t be stopped.
With Kyrie gone, that also meant that LeBron brought the ball up the floor more than usual and we already know just how great his playmaking his. Averaging 11 assists, LeBron made the most of his team by finding open shooters, finding guys on cuts, and lobbing to Tristan Thompson. Nothing new but just things we saw more often since there was no other ball handler on the team.
Toronto Raptors review
This was the most disappointing Toronto Raptors performance of all three series. LeBron was amazing but he was nowhere near the level he was in 2017. And with a stronger team and the Cavs functioning with what was a last-minute roster — many trades were made on trade deadline day. It is probably the most embarrassing Raptors defeat of all three series.
The Raptors, who were the first seed, failed to even take a game when the fourth-seeded Pacers brought it to 7. As bad a series as it was, it may be something Raptors fans should be grateful for what followed. Casey got axed, DeRozan got traded and we got introduced to a new era of Toronto Raptors basketball.
And well, LeBron James went to the Western Conference. Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James on the championship.