Michael Jordan had four game-winning playoff buzzer beaters during his career. LeBron hit his fifth on Saturday night.
LeBron James is, was and always be ridiculous. The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently 3-0 up against the Toronto Raptors thanks to his own continued brilliance, even now, 15 years into his storied NBA career. They need to take one more game and it will be an eighth Eastern Conference Final in a row for James, of which he was won the last seven with the Miami Heat and then the Cavaliers.
On Saturday night he was once again destroying the hopes and dreams of another franchise trying to muscle themselves into the NBA finals proper. 2010 was the last time LeBron didn’t make it, and even with the game tied at 103-103 and only eight seconds on the clock, there was still little doubt. He did what he always does.
His running, off-balance floater off the glass was a masterpiece, and a worthy addition to his gallery of game-winners in the playoffs. Here are all five, in reverse chronological order.
Long live the King.
5. 2018 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Opposition: Toronto Raptors
Time remaining: 8 seconds
Verdict: A complete nonsense
4. 2018 Eastern Conference First Round
Opposition: Indiana Pacers
Time Remaining: 3 seconds
Verdict: THE BOTTOM
3. 2015 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Opposition: Chicago Bulls
Time remaining: 1.5 seconds
Verdict: 1.5 seconds, fading into corner, over Jimmy Butler. No adjectives exist for this. None at all.
2. 2013 Eastern Conference Finals Indiana Pacers. 2.2 seconds left in overtime
Opposition: Indiana Pacers
Time remaining: 2.2 seconds
Verdict: Is 2.2 seconds enough time for a layup? Yeah, apparently 2.2 seconds is enough time for a layup. If you are LeBron James.
1. 2009 Eastern Conference Finals vs Orlando Magic. 1 second left
Opposition: Orlando Magic
Time remaining: 1 second
Verdict: That’s not a man out there, it’s a GOAT
