Former Raptors Guard Reflects On Being Swept By LeBron James In 2018

Norman Powell gets real on being swept by LeBron in 2018 playoffs.

4 Min Read

Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

After finishing with the first seed in the East, the Toronto Raptors were on the fast track to the Finals before encountering LeBron James and the Cavs in 2018. Looking back on the series, which ended in a 4-0 Cleveland sweep, former Raptors guard Norman Powell says he knew that things would never be the same again.

“When LeBron hit the little buzzer beater with the right running and games us like that,” said Norm. “Me and Fred looked at each other in the locker room like ‘someone’s gonna go. We’re the number 1 seed and we got swept, that don’t happen.” 

LeBron and the Cavs advanced to the Finals that year, only to get swept by the nearly unbeatable Golden State Warriors. Meanwhile, in Toronto, the Raptors never recovered after their humiliating playoff elimination. Just a few weeks later, the team underwent a full roster overhaul that saw longtime fan favorite DeMar DeRozan get traded for a one-year rental of Kawhi Leonard.


“LeBronto” Left A Lasting Legacy

At the time, the Raptors were considered to be among the best teams in basketball and they were favorites to come out of the East with Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, and a 59-23 record after 82 regular-season games. In the end, though, they were no match for LeBron James, who abused the team in almost every way possible. By the second game of the series, LeBron’s dominance created the “LeBronto” nickname and it’s a stretch that had a long-lasting impact on the Raptors.

By the following October, the Raptors were a completely new team with Kawhi Leonard leading the way. Of course, as we now know, Kawhi would end up leading the Raptors to a championship in 2019 before heading to Los Angeles. And while he deserves credit for that title, LeBron deserves some credit too for forcing the Raptors into making a desperation trade that altered their history for the better. To this day, that series, and LeBron’s entire 2018 playoff run, are considered among the defining moments of his career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0KDSJDX1Pk


LeBron’s 2018 Playoff Run Is The Stuff Of Legends

It wasn’t just against the Raptors that LeBron went off. In fact, he was unstoppable for the entire playoffs that year and it’s the reason why the Cavaliers were able to win the East without Kyrie Irving. Despite Irving’s departure the summer before, James neutralized his absence by being a more aggressive scorer and taking over all playmaking responsibilities.

Over 22 games, James averaged 34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 9.0 assists for the Cavaliers while also being their best on-ball defender. In the end, we know it wasn’t enough to compete against the Warriors dynasty with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, but it’s hard not to think about what could have been had Kyrie never left in 2017. Regardless, LeBron’s 2019 playoff run remains one of the shining moments of his career and that’s impressive considering he didn’t even the title.

Against the Raptors specifically, James was so good in the series that it ended one of the NBA’s longest-running backcourts at the time. To sweep the first team in the East as the fourth seed really says a lot about LeBron’s ability to elevate his game in the postseason and it’s something that nobody who witnessed it will ever forget.

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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