Can Anyone Beat LeBron James Anymore?

I picked the San Antonio Spurs to win it all in seven games at the beginning of this season. I only forgot to account for the one person standing in the way; the best player on the planet, LeBron James.

I always think back to 2007, when Duncan bested Baby Bron Bron, sweeping him in the NBA Finals. It was the first finals I ever watched, and while it was pretty anti climactic, I was captivated by the utter dominance of the San Antonio Spurs.

When I think of LeBron James, four images have lasted in my mind. Game 4 in '07, Game 5 of the 2010 East semis when he quit against the Celtics, the infamous Decision and 2011 Finals collapse. I think of a superstar who shrunk in the big moments, and left town for the die-hard fans of South Beach (he wrote with heavy sarcasm.) I continue to "forget" LeBron heroically giving the C's the beat down in game 6 of the 2012 conference finals, slapping up a 45-15-5 on my own team. And I forget that he played WITH CRAMPS IN THE 2012 FINALS AGAINST THE FAVORED OKC THUNDER, while becoming an unquestioned superstar and winning his first championship (for all the 2014 Finals cramp haters, do some homework.) I tune out his 60 percent shooting and shrug at his 30 point games  because he's done it so many freaking times. I take his greatness for granted. Like the guy or not (I basically change my opinions on him daily) you HAVE TO respect his level of greatness. You better believe he's a top 10 all-timer, and I fear that the way things are right now, no one, including the beloved Spurs, can beat LeBron James.

Once I was watching First Take (of this I am ashamed and I apologize) and Stephen A. Smith was talking about how MJ didn't win championships, but ruined franchises. Any team that stood in his way (Seattle, Portland, Utah, Phoenix, LA) was beaten and destroyed. If you think about it, LeBron has compiled his own little list of demoralized teams; Boston(sobbing), Indiana, Chicago, OKC, and half the San Antonio Spurs (the other half is owned by Ray Allen.) LeBron and the Heat forced the Celtics off of their great but short lived throne, beat the Pacers and Bulls in consecutive playoffs each, beat KD in 2012 and Duncan and co. in 2013. Think of it like this; no one in the NBA even thinks about winning it all anymore; it's all about "dethroning Miami" and "Beating the Heat."

That being said, I am loving the San Antonio Spurs' redemption tour. They are a world class basketball team, with one of the 5 best ever players (Duncan) and coaches (Pop). They've won 50 games the last 15 seasons and never seek glory or headlines. It's all about winning. No organization so great should  go through what they went through in games 6 and 7 without some sort of happy ending. They didn't deserve a loss that heart breaking or spirit crushing (WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?!!) I could care less if LeBron rattles off 8 rings in a row after this year. If the Spurs win just one more to expunge last years catastrophic fluke, I'll be happy.

The way LeBron played in game 2, that is a big huge IF. However if anyone can do it, it's the San Antonio Spurs.

So can anyone beat LeBron? We will surely find out. If he wins this year, there's officially no stopping him. Winning one ring is great. Two rings is greater. Three rings and beyond is history.


Thanks for reading, leave predictions/ comments below!