Wade: Some teams think, dream only of beating LeBron

The basketball world hasn't witnessed an NBA Finals matchup minus LeBron James in six years, with the four-time league MVP adding three championship trophies to his mantle as the leader of both the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Eleven teams in the Eastern Conference have bowed to The King in the postseason during that span: The 76ers, Celtics, Bulls, Knicks, Pacers, Bucks, Hornets, Nets, Hawks, Raptors, and Detroit Pistons.

The 2016-17 Cavaliers appear vulnerable with a shaky defense and aging roster, but the reigning titleholders are still the favorites to get out of the East. Every other squad in the conference, however, is holding out hope that this is the year the mighty James finally falls.

"I hope so," Dwyane Wade joked to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck. "There's teams that, all they dream and sleep and eat and think about is beating LeBron and beating Cleveland."

Wade, now with the Bulls, was a part of the star-studded "Heatles" trio that guided Miami to four straight Finals appearances and two championship wins in 2012 and 2013. He's had a firsthand look at James' greatness, and can appreciate the level of effort it takes for the opposition to even leave a dent in his armor.

"He's that great of a player," said Wade. "We talked about that in Miami: Once he got in, it was like Jordan - it was going to be hard to get him out. And he's proven that."

Cleveland has a 3-0 lead over the Pacers in their best-of-seven series following a 119-114 comeback win Thursday. James finished with a triple-double of 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, moving past Kobe Bryant for third on the all-time playoff scoring list.