By Michael Lepoutre

Before you say anything, let me just be the first (or millionth) to say that you can not compare the careers of LeBron James and Michael Jordan. 

Maybe one day? Of course! It's LeBron freaking James for crying out loud. But the man is 27-years-old. He's going to be amazing, possibly the best. But not yet.

BUT, just because comparing the two megastars is so juicy in itself, Season's Over is taking a more practical route: how does LeBron James's performance in the 2012 Finals compare to those performances of Jordan's in '91, '92, '93, '96, '97, and '98? Let's take a look:

2012 LeBron James (28, 10, 7)

Let's set the stage first, just a quick run-down of what the MVP precisely did to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. 28.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG and 7.4 APG is the line that has everyone talking about, as it should be. The man nearly averaged a triple-double in the entire series, but more importantly, he was consistent. He didn't score more than 32 and he didn't score less than 26, and he was (to repeat myself) THE MAN when it came to being "clutch." So with that being said, let's really take a look at how this performance stacks up:


LeBron vs. '91 Jordan (31, 6, 11)

This one was tough, but in taking down the mighty Lakers, Michael Jordan accomplished without criticism what James has been trying to do for a while now–take a backseat. Jordan averaged 11.4 assists in the '91 Finals, his highest Finals average, en route to a five-game series win. And he also averaged 30+ points in every game in just his first Finals in just his seventh season. Then he cried with the trophy and the rest is history. Advantage: Jordan


LeBron vs. '92 Jordan (35, 4, 6)

Jordan made it look like he was a grown man playing Biddy basketball in Game 1, sinking six 3-pointers en route to a Finals record 35 points in the first half. He was less amazing in Game 2 when his sloppy play lead to a Trail Blazer overtime comeback, but he came in clutch in Game 5 with 46 points to put Chicago up 3-2, and it's hard to ignore the simple fact that he averaged 35.8 points per game. Ridiculous. Advantage: Jordan


LeBron vs. '93 Jordan (41, 8, 6)

It's amazing that someone can average more than 40 points a game in a series and have it not be considered one of his finest performances. It's weird to consider, that despite a scoring performance of 55 in Game 4, that he was less influential in '93 than in other years. But for the sake of our argument, the claim has to be made that LeBron was more important to the Heat in 2012 than Jordan was to the Bulls at the end of the first three-peat. Advantage: LeBron


LeBron vs. '96 Jordan (27, 5, 4)

This is really the only instance for me in which LeBron was clearly better. The team was easily the most dominant in the history of the game with Jordan back playing at his ridiculous level, but when it came time to the Finals, it was his least memorable performance by far. Obviously 27, 5, and 4 is nothing to sneeze at, but it's the safest to say is worse than 28, 10, and 7. Advantage: LeBron


LeBron vs. '97 Jordan (32, 7, 6)

If we were to compare the performances by lines only, then this one would have to go James's way. But when you factor in Jordan leading the team past a 2-2 series tie (something LeBron can't yet put on his resume), the Flue Game, a game-winning shot in Game 1, and a series-winning pass in Game 6, it's not even close. Advantage: Jordan


LeBron vs. '98 Jordan (33, 4, 20)

This one would be Jordan's masterpiece if only for the fact that he basically did it without Scottie Pippen (who was battling back injuries throughout the series), but there are so many other reasons why his final championship run was the sweetest. With monster games on the road in Utah, including the iconic series-clinching shot in Game 6, Jordan said goodbye (sort of) to the game of basketball like no one had ever done before.  Advantage: Jordan

By Mike Corasaniti

If anybody playing in the NBA Finals is relaxed right now, it certainly can't be anyone close to LeBron James.

But the man has a bit of pressure on him, but he is also playing outside of his mind, which includes leading all scoring in Game 3 with 29 points to go along with his 14 rebounds. So should LBJ be relaxed continuing the series in Miami?

Going into Game 4 up one on the Oklahoma City Thunder though should be a good thing for the Miami Heat. Since '97, two series (including LeBron's Cavaliers sweep at the hands of San Antonio in 2007) went into Game 4 with one team up 3-0. But for the 13 that did involve one team going up 2-1 after Game 3, 11 of those series went to the team holding the advantage. 

Obviously though, James and the rest of the Heat have a few 2011 Finals demons to exorcise before they put the rest of this matchup on cruise control. So what mistakes will they have to avoid to become the third team since 1984 to lose after claiming a 2-1 lead? Let's take a look at the three instances:

1984–Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers 4-3

Los Angeles split the opening games in Boston before Magic Johnson passed out 21 assists in 137-104 victory that ignited Larry Bird to call his teammates a bunch of "sissies." The Celtics went on to win the next two games after the Lakers blew Game 4 en route to a seven game series win. Fun fact: this was also the last series to be played under a 2-2-1-1-1 format, as opposed to the ridiculous 2-3-2 format we play with now. What the Heat can take from this: don't let the other team's star player take over. Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the Finals, including 34 in Game 5. Kevin Durant's performances are earning comparisons to Jordan, and the Heat need to stop that if they want to hold on to this lead.

2006–Miami Heat def. Dallas Mavericks 4-2

Behind Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks jumped on top of Miami by taking the first two games of the series in Dallas. Then Dwyane Wade literally exploded for 42, 36, 43, and 36 points in Games 3, 4, 5, and 6 to lead the Heat to their first title in franchise history. What the Heat can take from this: contain the guard. Everyone's saying it: Russell Westbrook's play will decide this series. If he's hot, then it's going to OKC. If he's erratic, then the Thunder will have to wait another year. Keep the pressure on Mr. Geek Chic, and the title will be in LeBron's hands.

2011–Dallas Mavericks def. Miami Heat 4-2

Remember this one? The one where Dirk still had memories of '06 ringing in his ears and decided to explode himself? Yea, that was fun to watch. For everyone but Miami. What the Heat can take from this: forget about it. They are a much better team then they were a year ago, and LeBron James is, somehow, a much better player. If they can keep exposing the Thunder as the stiff, inexperienced team they've been looking like the past two games, then they should have no problem winning out.

By Michael Lepoutre

There was a time when Rajon Rondo was a footnote.

Think back to 2008, the first year of the first “Big 3” experiment that showcased the Celtics as a team with 3 viable scoring options in Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. Some saw Rondo as a fourth scoring option, but his inconsistent shooting and sometimes-questionable decision-making put some justified doubts in peoples’ minds. Defenders readily gave him space around the 3-point line and some were even content to leave him open from as close as 16 feet.  

Rondo averaged 10.6 PPG, a respectable amount considering the variety of scorers on the Celtics roster. The point guard however struggled to distribute the ball, averaging just 5.1 assists throughout the year. The sophomore point guard was rarely worried about when Pierce, Allen, and Garnett made up the majority of opponent’s game plans. 

My how things have changed. 

More than anyone else over the past three seasons, Rajon Rondo has elevated his play since the Celtics’ 2008 championship run and thus has them one game away from another shot at a title. 

He’s smart, using what frame he has to disallow post-position. He’s tricky, allowing players into the lane only to back check for the ball, collect the steal, and lead the fast break for the easy bucket. And he distributes, getting Bass, Pietrus, Bradley and everyone else involved when it matters the most (such as when Ray Allen went down on ankle injury). And although he might not have the size of some of the 3’s and 4’s out there, he is a pesky defender and really makes the opponent work their shots and position on the floor; he’s one of the few players in the league that is willing to guard any player on the opposing team.

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers even recently went as far as to say, “Rondo is the smartest player I’ve every coached.”

The Celtics success this season is largely in part of Rondo. Want some stats to prove it? During the past regular season this year, the tricky floor general averaged a double-double with 11.9 PPG and 11.7 APG and led the league in assists (203), steals (41), and triple doubles (6). Such play has earned him a spot at the table with the Big 3, and perhaps even the right to shuffle the seating as well.

But perhaps Rondo’s greatest contributions have come during the playoffs. The guard is averaging 16.8 PPG, good enough for third best on the roster behind Garnett and Pierce. He’s played some outstanding games, including that monstrous 44-point effort in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals to go along with his playoff leading 3 triple-doubles. And when the Celtics lost Paul Pierce before the beginning of OT in Game 2, Rondo took over, scoring all 12 of the Celtics points in extra time on 4-5 shooting; production that Heat fans are desperate for from their stars after falling behind 3-2 in the series.  

Over the past few years, Rondo has transitioned from a formidable defender that deferred to the Big 3 into one of the most decisive and dangerous guards in the league. If the Celtics get past the Heat, first praise goes to Rondo and Rondo only. Without him, the Celtics championship window would certainly have closed already.

By Mike Corasaniti

With tip-off for Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals just minutes away, Season's Over is taking a look at the four possible NBA Finals match-ups. Both series are tied at two apiece, so it's anyone's game right? Let's take a look:

Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

It's hard to imagine the Heat not making their second-straight Finals appearance, but with the way the C's have been playing in Games 3 and 4 (and 2 for that matter), it's not too hard to fathom. This match-up would be cool (just think of the Kendrick Perkins homecoming stories) and an interesting one with the whole old vs. new aspect. And who doesn't want to see two of the league's best PGs in Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo go at it? This match-up could be a lot of fun. Prediction – The series depends mostly on Rondo's impact. He's been the MVP of these playoffs so far, but how long it will last has been questioned at every step of the way (and it's not stopping anytime soon). But more than likely, the Thunder prove that they have finally become the team that they have been trying to be for four years now and dominate the series en route to their first championship since the move from Seattle. Thunder 4-1


Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs

This nightmare has had to formulate in the dreams of LeBron James before, right? The man that stood in the way of his first NBA Finals run (Tim Duncan) is now once again the main reason why the Heat could go home empty-handed. At this point in time, neither the Heat nor Spurs are looking like the best they have been all season. And unless the leaders from both sides start to step up, this could quite possibly be the least possibly scenario for the championship. Prediction – So let's say the world isn't really ending and both Miami and San Antonio find their mojo to win their respective conference finals. Do we go with the League of Extraordinary Veterans who have time and time again shut teams down with their unselfish play? Or do we go with the hungry, hungry Heat who, most likely revitalized with the return of Chris Bosh. My instincts want me to say the Spurs, because they never seem to want to go away. But something deeper inside of me feels like hell is about to freeze over, LeBron is about to hit a couple clutch fourth quarter shots, and the Big 3 laugh all the way back to South Beach. Heat 4-3


Boston Celtics vs. San Antonio Spurs

After how many years, how is it possible that only just now are Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan meeting this deep in the playoffs? But as awesome as it sounds, the frontcourt won't be where this Finals match-up is decided. Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo are itching to show again and prove to the league and it's fans that they can be the best players on their team when it matters the most. And who ever comes closest to doing so will decide the fate of the series if these two teams meet. Prediction – Part of me feels bad for not going the way of the Celtics, a team that with the first real "Big 3" of the 2000s should be a team with multiple championships to their name. But the Spurs have done this just one too many times before, and whether Duncan, Parker, Manu Ginobli, or Matt Bonner emerges the hero, this match-up has San Antonio written over it all the way. Spurs 4-2

Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Am I the only one that is dying to see this? It's Durant vs. LeBron. OKC vs. South Beach. Hell it's Serge Ibaka vs. Udonis Haslem. Almost everything about this series just seems, I don't know, exciting. Because if this match-up came to be, it's the hardest one for me to predict an outcome. Teams would go back and forth with streaks; maybe Nick Collison explodes for 25 in Game 2, maybe Chris Bosh comes back from injury for a monster series tying Game 4 in Miami, who knows? The story-lines would be never-ending. The thought of turning on the TV to see either a Blue-out or White-out every not is just way too cool for me. But when it comes down to the games, which superstar (James or KD) will come away with their first ring? Prediction – It's a barnburner. If I was ever to bet my life on a series going seven games it would be this one. Durant goes crazy in Game 1, sending the media into a fenzy about the game's new King. But the Heat take the next two. And the Thunder take the next two. And after Wade wins game six on a pull-up jumper with 1.3 seconds left, it could go either way in the finale. Too close to call