WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT WHERE THEY RANKED AS
PLAYERS...
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
ON THE COURT...
KOBE DIDNT OUTPLAY
CHAUNCEY IN THOSE FINALS,
WADE DIDNT OUTPLAY DUNCAN, ETC
KYRIE DID OUTPLAY STEPH
IN B2B FINALS.
In all the series I listed, the #2 on one team either outplayed the #1 on the other team, or was close enough that it still would have been an evenly matched series if he had.
Jerry and Wilt performed like the top two players on the court in the '70 Finals and the Lakers still lost
Hayes and Dandridge were the two best players in the '78 Finals and still barely won in 7
Magic/Kareem both outplayed Dr. J in '80 and it was still a tight series
Magic/Worthy arguably both outplayed Isiah in '88
Kobe didn't outplay Chancey in '04, but the Lakers lost so badly that he could have outplayed him and it still would have been an evenly matched series
Pau outplayed Garnett in 2010 and it was still a very even series
There are people who would argue that 2013 Finals Wade played even to 2013 Duncan
Whether Kyrie outplayed Steph in 2016 is an open question, Steph had the greater defensive attention. It was still clearly an even series and ridiculous to claim otherwise.
Bron had to averaged 30-11-9 on good shooting %'s with great defense, and the series still came down to the biggest block in Finals history followed by a tie-breaking 3pt with a minute left. It was CLEARLY an evenly matches series and to claim otherwise is ridiculous.
The Cavs were basically playing with just 5 players who could contribute positively, and three of those were TT, JR, and a 35yo washed RJ. Going up against a 73 win team with three all-stars and you want to claim they had too big an advantage?