In the end, there is a difference between having LeBron James, and not. In Toronto’s last game before he was drafted No. 1 13 years ago, Cleveland and Toronto both tried their damnedest to lose in a half-dead Ohio arena, to improve their odds. Toronto lost the game; the Cavaliers won the lottery anyway. It changed everything.
Now, 13 fascinating and complicated years later, LeBron is headed to a record sixth straight NBA final with Cleveland’s 113-87 win over the Raptors in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final. The Raptors could have done more: they could have made shots, defended better.