NBA playoffs: Cavaliers rolling, yet LeBron James faces criticism

We are two rounds into the Cleveland Cavaliers taking their victory lap throughout the Eastern Conference. After blowing through the Indiana Pacers in four games during the opening round, the Cavaliers took it to the Toronto Raptors.

On Sunday afternoon, Cleveland finished off the third-seeded Raptors at the Air Canada Centre, winning 109-102 to complete another four-game sweep. As usual, it was LeBrom James leading the way, notching 35 points with nine rebounds and six assists. Kyrie Irving was there to help, scoring 27 points with nine dimes and four steals.

While the Cavs wait to find out who they will beat next (either the Washington Wizards or Boston Celtics), the conversation will turn to James. James, who is somehow already in his 14th NBA season, continues to dominate at levels almost impossible outside of a video game. He isn’t likely to win this year’s MVP trophy, with either Russell Westbrook or James Harden taking home the hardware. Still, you would be hard-pressed to find a single general manager willing to take either over James.

Cleveland is a round away from reaching its third finals in a row, the fourth in team history. The franchise, which has existed since 1970, had been a dumpster fire until James showed up in 2003. Now, he is the sole reason this team has a substantial shot of winning a title each and every year. Yet he remains polarizing to legions of NBA fans, some who feel he will never do enough to eclipse the shadow cast by Michael Jordan.

Should James go to the NBA Finals this year, and he will, this would be his seventh consecutive trip, including four with the Miami Heat. Despite all of Jordan’s greatness, that is something No. 23 was never able to do. While the Golden State Warriors are likely to win it all, James does have a chance to win his fourth title, putting him another step closer to Jordan’s six.

Ultimately, James will always be judged against an impossible standard. Some of the arguments are legitimate, while some are bogus. Many believe Jordan played with inferior teams, although he enjoyed a top 50 NBA player with Scottie Pippen. In reality, James and Jordan both had ample help, ranging from Pippen and Dennis Rodman to Dwyane Wade and Irving.

If there is one argument for Jordan, it’s that he faced tougher teams in the East. He consistently ran up against Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O’Neal, three sure-fire Hall of Famers. James has yet to beat a high-quality team with anything resembling a Hall of Fame talent, perhaps save Paul George. The best team James ever beat in the East? The Pacers, starring George, Roy Hibbert and David West.

Now, James once again waits for an inferior opponent, something he can do nothing about.