10 Harsh realities about LeBron James

#9 The Cavs' 2007 Finals run was a fluke

The Eastern Conference really fell in overall strength after the offseason of 2005. The Cavaliers improved their record from 35 wins in LeBron's first season to 50 wins in his fourth. However, the rest of the Conference was afflicted by injuries, the decline of players who were aging and long past their prime and the lack of a supporting roster for the likes of Paul Pierce and Jason Kidd, who were languishing on mediocre teams.

The Pistons' feared fivesome of Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace was not nearly as awe-inspiring as it was in 2004. Sheed, Ben and Rip were on the wrong side of their careers, and although the way LeBron demolished the Pistons is beyond dispute, the magnitude of the challenge he faced is generally overplayed by newer fans of the game.

The emergence of the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic as superior playoff teams after this season prevented him from making another Finals series during his first Cleveland spell.