There’s a common belief among the NBA analysts that a one-and-done can not just come in and hope to transform a team. Then, entered the best exception, LeBron James. The Akron Hammer pulled Cleveland Cavaliers on the map, right from the day he stepped on the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

He listed a 17-win team to become a 35 and then a 42 win team before eventually helping them reach their first postseason in eight long years. Such was the impact of a rookie on a team that Carlos Boozer had only recently left. But his craziest contribution came in the 2007 postseason.

When LeBron James preyed on the Detroit Pistons 

In the 2007 Eastern Conference finals, a 53-win Pistons met a 50-win Cavaliers. The Cavs lost both their opener away games and started their first home game with a 0-2 deficit. LeBron scored a paltry 10 points in Game 1 and proved luckless in Game 2.

However, King James bounced back, registering 32 and 25 points respectively to help the Cavs win their home games. Then came the iconic Game 5 that placed the L-Train at the helm of the throne.

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In a game that would go to double overtime, the Akron Hammer scored 29 of the team’s 30 final points. In fact, he scored the final 25 points at 11/13 FG with a buzzer-beating layup to close the victory. Take a look at this game that helped them later play their first NBA Finals.

When Michael Jordan Admitted He Studies LeBron James’ Game

What made that win super special?

Well, this had much to do with King James’ first postseason appearance. In Playoffs 2006, it were the same Detroit Pistons that had eliminated the Cavaliers in conference semis. If not for them, the world might’ve seen LeBron James vs Dwyane Wade in the ECF 2006. 

In that series, Cleveland had shown a great character, bouncing back from 0-2, to win three straight games. In fact, LeBron had averaged close to 31 points in those 13 postseason games, making a grand debut in the playoffs. And yet, because of a poor Game 7 offense, they lost their shot at the NBA Finals even after ending the regular-season with 50 wins. This had raised legitimate doubts on the Cavs.

But fortunately for them, they sought their revenge over Rasheed Wallace’s unit the very next year and gave the city of Cleveland something to cheer for. So what would you now remember the playoffs 2007 for, the Spurs’ 4-0 routing of the Cavs, or the Cavs’ brave win over the Pistons? Help us learn in the comments section below.

Watch this story – Five Teams LeBron James Scored the Most Points Against in the NBA