LeBron James: One man stands in the Warriors’ way
Photo: Gregory Shamus Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Image 1 of 10 CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after hitting the game winning shot to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-103 in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 5, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX *** less CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after hitting the game winning shot to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-103 in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during ... more Photo: Gregory Shamus Image 2 of 10 Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James soars to dunk in front of Boston Celtics forward Al Horford (42) and forward Marcus Morris (13) during the first half in Game 7 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals, Sunday, May 27, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) less Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James soars to dunk in front of Boston Celtics forward Al Horford (42) and forward Marcus Morris (13) during the first half in Game 7 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference ... more Photo: Charles Krupa / Associated Press Image 3 of 10 CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a basket in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) less CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a basket in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans ... more Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Image 4 of 10 BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is interviewed by Doris Burke after defeating the Boston Celtics 87-79 in Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the 2018 NBA Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) less BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is interviewed by Doris Burke after defeating the Boston Celtics 87-79 in Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the ... more Photo: Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Image 5 of 10 Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James goes up for a dunk in the second quarter during Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday, June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James goes up for a dunk in the second quarter during Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday, June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Image 6 of 10 Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James blows kisses as he walks off the floor after a 128-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Monday, May 7, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) less Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James blows kisses as he walks off the floor after a 128-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Monday, May 7, 2018, in ... more Photo: Tony Dejak / Associated Press Image 7 of 10 LeBron James (23) shoots while defended by Kevin Durant (35) and Omri Casspi (18) in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, December 25, 2017. less LeBron James (23) shoots while defended by Kevin Durant (35) and Omri Casspi (18) in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle Image 8 of 10 Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James tries to block a Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant shot in the second quarter during Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday, June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio less Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James tries to block a Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant shot in the second quarter during Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday, June 9, 2017 in ... more Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Image 9 of 10 CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates his game winning shot with Kevin Love #0 next to Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 5, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX *** less CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates his game winning shot with Kevin Love #0 next to Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the Eastern Conference ... more Photo: Gregory Shamus Image 10 of 10 LeBron James stands in the way of the Warriors' quest for a third championship in four years. LeBron James stands in the way of the Warriors' quest for a third championship in four years. Photo: Photo Illustration Via Getty Images And The Chronicle LeBron James: One man stands in the Warriors’ way 1 / 10 Back to Gallery
The Warriors have one major obstacle standing between them and a second-straight NBA championship.
LeBron James.
Cleveland’s legendary leader is playing out of his mind in this year’s NBA playoffs, carrying a truly mediocre cast of teammates to the Finals for the fourth straight year.
It’s a remarkable feat, really. But then everything about James seems remarkable. From his output to his leadership, from his impact to his stamina, there’s a historic feel to what he’s accomplishing this year.
Forget four straight trips to the mountain top with Cleveland, this is James’ eighth straight Finals, dating back to his time with the Miami Heat.
That’s not remarkable. It’s ridiculous. And you can see it every night he plays.
The other night, late in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against Boston, James stole a pass and broke away into the clear, two Celtics in hot pursuit. James not only beat them to the rim - while dribbling - he also carried Marcus Morris along for the ride. The 6-foot-9 Boston forward, who is a large man in his own right, clamped both hands down on James’ shoulders from behind, hoping to deliver a hard foul and stop the easy basket.
King James simply elevated with Morris in tow, and scored.
James had outraced and outmuscled the Celtics, at a crucial moment of an elimination game. You could see their confidence evaporate.
The sequence reminded me of James’ block on Andre Iguodala late in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, a tremendous physical burst, at a key moment. Alongside Kyrie Irving’s clutch jump shot, James’ hustle and stamina secured Cleveland’s first NBA championship.
Fast forward two years, and we find ourselves in a familiar situation, but a different circumstance.
It’s Round 4 of Golden State vs. Cleveland with the championship on the line. The difference, this time, is James no longer has Irving by his side … or pretty much anyone else. Irving, the ultra-talented point guard left, for Boston in an ill-fated, offseason trade for Isaiah Thomas, who isn’t even with the Cavs anymore.
Cleveland essentially remade its roster midseason, trading away promising complimentary pieces like Thomas for a new crop of young talent and middling veterans. Can you remember a team blowing up the roster and making the Finals? It only works if you have James.
There are some familiar role players around, like J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson. The most notable Cavalier, other than James, is Kevin Love. And he may not play due to a recent concussion.
You’ll see the likes of George Hill and Kyle Korver and Larry Nance, Jr. - all of whom have played a role in getting Cleveland here. But you’ll mostly see James trying to outmaneuver the Warriors and their four All-Stars, using his outsized basketball influence and intelligence.
It sounds like an impossible task - and it probably is - but if anyone can pull it off, it would be James. He’s playing at the absolute peak of his powers right now, in his 15th season in the league. It’s an absolutely astonishing development, given how many minutes he has played and how much burden he has shouldered.
Consider some of these statistics:
•James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the postseason, with 6,740 points. That’s nearly 1,000 more than second-place Michael Jordan.
•He’s also the league’s all-time postseason leader in steals (414), field goals (2,396) and free throws (1,587) made.
•On this playoff run, he’s averaging over 33 points a game, leading all players by far. He’s made two buzzer-beating jump shots (against the Pacers and Raptors), making him only the second person to ever do that twice in one postseason (joining Robert Horry.)
•In the Game 7 closeout of Indiana, James scored 45, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out seven assists and had four steals in 43 minutes. Those are monstrous numbers rarely seen in the pressure-cooker of a Game 7.
•In Game 2 at Toronto in the Eastern Conference semifinals, James scored 43 points, with 14 assists, along with eight rebounds in 41 minutes. That’s stupid good. No one has ever scored more than 40, while dishing out 14 assists, in the NBA playoffs.
Witness, indeed.
One could go on and on with statistics and superlatives. James is making his claim to being the greatest of all time, fulfilling a promise that started when he was a teenager in Akron, not far from Cleveland. He was ordained King at that early age, and he’s actually managed to live up to it.
Amazing career. No off-court scandals. He’s lifted those around him.
In Northeast Ohio, where I grew up a few years before James, losing had become endemic. We had lost our manufacturing jobs. We had lost our civic pride. We had lost more games than anyone can count. Cleveland teams inhabited the cellar of professional sports.
There were short glimpses of hope - the Bernie Kosar Browns, the Mark Price Cavs, the Albert Belle Indians - but they always fell short. Never brought home a title.
That is until James returned home - having won two titles in Miami - and delivered that unlikely and unbelievable 2016 championship to the region. The King delivered on his life’s calling. He restored Cleveland’s respect.
He also brought business back. Downtown redevelopment boomed. Restaurants opened. Jobs and hope. It all returned when James announced he was coming home.
It’s amazing that one basketball player can have that kind of impact, but I’ve spoken with Chamber of Commerce-types in Cleveland over the past three years while covering the Finals, and they believe his return brought over $1 billion in economic impact to the region.
Once again, a remarkable achievement and something to be proud of. Whatever happens in these Finals. Whether James leaves as a free agent this summer, as many expect, or not.
One thing is certain: LeBron James has been as great for Cleveland on the court as he’s been off of it.
LeBron James is Ohio royalty.
Al Saracevic is Sports Editor at The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: asaracevic@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @alsaracevic