Round 2 Preview: the Warriors vs LeBron James

The Western Conference NBA playoffs are heating up, and one matchup has caught the attention of basketball fans around the world: the Golden State Warriors vs. the LA Lakers. This second-round showdown is not just a battle between two of the most storied franchises in NBA history, but also a renewal of the ultimate rivalry between the Warriors and LeBron James.

Since 2015, the Warriors and LeBron James have met in the NBA Finals four times, with the Warriors coming out on top in three of those series. The rivalry between these two powerhouses has been fueled by intense competition, trash talk, and high-stakes basketball. From Steph Curry's dazzling shooting displays to LeBron James' incredible all-around game, these matchups have been some of the most exciting and memorable moments in recent NBA history.
Now, in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, the stage is set for another epic battle between the Warriors and the Lakers. The Warriors are coming off a thrilling 7 game series over the Sacramento Kings, while the Lakers are looking to defend their win after defeating the Grizzlies in a hard-fought first-round series.

As the Warriors and the Lakers prepare to take the court, fans are eagerly anticipating another chapter in this legendary rivalry. Will LeBron carry the Lakers to another championship, or will the Warriors rise up and claim victory in the west? One thing is for sure: this matchup is sure to provide plenty of drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments.

So, between 2015 and 2018 LeBron James and the Warriors met a whole 22 times in the playoffs, all of which took place in the finals. In all the games, LeBron averaged 33 points, 11.5 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 steals per game!!! That is an impressive statline, but it comes to no surprise when hearing that in the 2016 Finals, LeBron James alone led the series in all five major statistical categories, a feat that no one ever thought to be possible, even less so in today's game .

The Warriors are the current champs, and after somewhat of a let down of a regular season, Golden State came back with their heads held high as they took on the 3rd seed Sacramento Kings. Going into this series, there were talks of who would win, and of course no one could agree with one another. The Kings had a better regular season and were more dominant, but the Warriors and the Warriors and nothing will take Steph from playoff victory. In the end the series went on to 7 games, which the Warriors won by 20 points. Now Facing the underdogs Lakers who beat the second seed Grizzlies, there will have to be a lot of adjustments on either side.

The thing that makes everyone talk about this upcoming series is the fact that it is romanticized by a history between two rivals, the Warriors and whoever they landed in the east. As most of you know, that would be LeBron for 4 straight seasons. But there's nothing wrong with romanticising what looks like a last dance in the eyes of the world, as LeBron James and the Warriors take on each other one last time in a playoff series.

Speaking of one last time, these players won't be the same next season. The Warriors are actually running their last dance, as Wiggins and Poole have been offered max contracts and Draymond Green is starting to look outwards at the organization. Steph is Golden State, he won't go anywhere, but his second hand-man Klay, that we don't know so much about. Basically, this will be the last time the original three players will play together, at least in the near future. On LeBron's side of the story, he only has a couple seasons left and after missing 2 consecutive playoffs, he wasn't going to let that happen again. After winning their first game in the play-in tournament, winning the grizzlies series in 6, he and the Lakers now have to face off one of the all time NBA franchises and dynasties to seal his name deeper than ever into not only the league, but the entire game of Basketball.