How does Lebron's legacy change if he had won in 2015 but lost in 2016

[coastalmarker99]

In this hypothetical what if Lebron wills the depleted Cavs to the title in 2015 in 6 or 7 games but loses the 2016 finals in 7 games to the 73 and 9 Warriors the very next year.

Pros for Lebron's legacy in this hypothetical he would have the greatest carry job by a single player in Nba history plus he would have also silenced all of his critics that claim that he needs all-stars around him to win titles.

Lebron also wins back to back finals MVP's as even if the Cavs had lost that game 7 in 2016 Lebron becomes the second player since Jerry West to win the finals MVP on the losing team.


Also, maybe Durant does not join the Warriors in 2016 if they win the title that year which gives the Cavs and Lebron a far bigger chance in the years to follow to win more titles to add to the one that they got in 2015.

[8Ball]

Both were impossible achievements.

Going up against a 67 team with just Delly.

Or 73 win team. I personally prefer Bron beating 73 wins because it rankles Jordan so much.

[ThatCoolKid]

Lebron carrying in 2015 would be a similar level accomplishment to coming back from 3-1 on the greatest Regular Season team of all time. So no direct legacy change. But Durant might be too embarrassed to join the Warriors is they go 73-9 and win the chip :lol resulting in additional championship opportunities for Lebron.

[coastalmarker99]

Lebron carrying in 2015 would be a similar level accomplishment to coming back from 3-1 on the greatest Regular Season team of all time. So no direct legacy change. But Durant might be too embarrassed to join the Warriors is they go 73-9 and win the chip :lol resulting in additional championship opportunities for Lebron.

Indeed I think winning with delly as your second-best player on the road in a finals game 7 in 2015 would have been insane for Lebron's legacy that would arguably be the goat carry job in sports history that's how impressive it would have been especially considering the fact he was playing a 67 win team as well.

[Ainosterhaspie]

Second best was probably Mosgov or TT, not Delly.

[And1AllDay]

Second best was probably Mosgov or TT, not Delly.

thats almost worse :oldlol:

[Micku]

Both are great accomplishments.

There's a certain ring to beating a 73 win team. No pun intended.

But the idea of him beating the 2015 team adds that all you need to do is give LeBron a solid team, and you have a chance of winning.

The whole teaming up with teammates wouldn't be a big issue anymore. I would say him winning in 2015 might inspire more goat talks than in 2016, but beating a 73 win team the way he did I think inspired more casual ppl talking about.

In 2015, ppl didn't respect the Warriors that much. LeBron and the Cavs didn't. I think it was reported somewhere that the Spurs in 13 and 14 were better in his mind. 16 was a different animal. 16 had more GSW fans. Curry also playing out of his mind being the first unanimous MVP. Lots of bandwagon fans. So, the cake was sweeter when the Cavs won. But 15 would probably something more of the hardcore fans wold talk about.

[3ball]

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15' carry-job > 16' shared load with Kyrie


Anytime the 2nd option outplays the opposing 1st option, it should be a sweep or 5 games.. the only reason it went 7 was because lebron wet the bed for the first 4 (24 and 6 TO's)

aka if KJ outplayed MJ in the 93' Finals, would anyone say Barkley had a goat achievement by winning that series?.. or of Rik Smits outplayed Shaq in 00', would Miller get credit for a goat accomplishment?.. so why does lebron get credit when Kyrie outplayed the only unanimous league MVP (curry)

[FKAri]

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15' carry-job > 16' shared load with Kyrie


Anytime the 2nd option outplays the opposing 1st option, it should be a sweep or 5 games.. the only reason it went 7 was because lebron wet the bed for the first 4 (24 and 6 TO's)

aka if KJ outplayed MJ in the 93' Finals, would anyone say Barkley had a goat achievement by winning that series?.. or of Rik Smits outplayed Shaq in 00', would Miller get credit for a goat accomplishment?.. so why does lebron get credit when Kyrie outplayed the only unanimous league MVP (curry)

What if the second option is scoring 20ppg while the opposition has 15 guys averaging 19.9ppg?

[And1AllDay]

What if the second option is scoring 20ppg while the opposition has 15 guys averaging 19.9ppg?

:oldlol:


goteeem

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Probably for the better. Winning against a 67 team with complete scrubs is probably equivalent to the 73 win 3-1 comeback. BUT, if you filp the order of the wins surely there's no way KD signs with the Warriors. I mean he is really lame so who knows.

But I suspect it doesn't happen. 2017 Cavs smoke 2017 GSW without KD, and the 2018 Cavs keep Kyrie, cause they just won and there's no impossible juggernaut to beat, and beat the 2018 rockets.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

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15' carry-job > 16' shared load with Kyrie


Anytime the 2nd option outplays the opposing 1st option, it should be a sweep or 5 games.. the only reason it went 7 was because lebron wet the bed for the first 4 (24 and 6 TO's)

aka if KJ outplayed MJ in the 93' Finals, would anyone say Barkley had a goat achievement by winning that series?.. or of Rik Smits outplayed Shaq in 00', would Miller get credit for a goat accomplishment?.. so why does lebron get credit when Kyrie outplayed the only unanimous league MVP (curry)

I hate to agree with a lebron hater, but yeah a title in 2015 with kyrie and love out would have been about as good of a boost for his legacy that could have happened.

[Axe]

Dub dynasty wouldn't have happened if that was the case.

[starface]

As long as he still flashes LeBoa in 2015 he becomes a legend either way.