The last confrontation between the Boston Celtics y LeBron James, brought with it thousands of comments around the world, due to its controversial ending, which was directly impacted by the referees, by not whistling a foul that Jayson Tatum committed against James. The next day, the referees recognized that they were wrong, but this did not return the possible victory to the Lakers.
But this controversial game is one more chapter in a long history of crucial and important confrontations between LeBron James and the Boston Celtics.
In his 20 seasons in the NBA, LeBron James has had different rivalries. In his early years in the league, he took out the Wizards de Washington in the first round for three consecutive seasons, which generated great battles with Gilbert Arenas, He also faced in consecutive years the Detroit Pistons, each splitting the disposal over two years.
When he was older and at his highest level of stardom, the rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs arose, and although they met in consecutive finals, it did not go any further because the figures of this team were already leaving the NBA.
Then came the rivalry with Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors, which while probably the biggest rivalry, having even met for four straight Finals, lacks the time needed to be the main villain of LeBron’s 20-year career. James.
Instead, the Boston Celtics were a constant thorn in the side of LeBron James, a team he’s faced in the postseason seven times, the most series by any opponent he’s faced in his playoff career.
Lebron James vs Boston Celtics
The first time they met in the postseason was in 2008, which ended in a team-high seven games, with a LeBron James scoring 45 points, but they were not enough against the 41 he scored Paul Pierce. This loss represented the first thorn in James’ side by the Celtics.
Boston’s second thorn would come in 2010 when they beat LeBron James again in the second round, but this time in an easier way. This caused James to become motivated to join forces with Dywane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heatto finally face Boston with a more balanced team than theirs.
Already wearing the Miami uniform, it became clear that the scenario was very different. The difference in talent between one team and another was remarkable. Boston had nothing to say in a series that was defined in five games, with a brilliant LeBron.
After losing their first two series against Boston, LeBron James made the popular saying of “he who laughs last laughs best” made sense, as they beat the Celtics in each of the following playoffs in which they faced them: 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018.
iconic moments
The image above, which is one of the most famous in LeBron James’ career, was taken in Game 6 of the second round of the 2012 playoffs. The Miami Heat faced elimination against Boston, but after a heroic performance James scoring 45 points, which has been one of his great postseason games.
In the 2018 conference finals, during Game 6, rookie Jayson Tatum dunked LeBron James, which went viral, practically, worldwide. However, in the following game, James scored 35 points to lead his Cleveland Cavaliers to a fourth straight Finals series.
The data
The team for which LeBron James averages the most points in his career is precisely against the Boston Celtics: 29.1 points per game, 7.2 assists, 7.1 rebounds, 92 steals and 56 blocks, 58 games.
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