This argument seems about dead, but I have another question (even though my others have been unanswered):
Could any player, even one as good as Lebron, overcome these 2013 playoff performances from the other four starters?
2012-13 playoffs:
DeAndre Jordan: 3.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, .424 TS% (!!!)
Serge Ibaka: 12.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, .484 TS%
Avery Bradley: 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.8 turnovers, .457 TS%
Monta Ellis: 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3.5 turnovers, .459 TS%
It's the lack of efficiency that blows my mind. A true shooting percentage below .500 is considered to be very, very bad. Here, all four of the Minnesota starters shot below that number in the most recent playoffs.
Or, if you prefer have everything laid out for you in one number:
Playoff PER:
Ellis: 12.3
Ibaka: 17.1
Jordan: 7.3
Bradley: 6.7
The average PER is 15.0, which includes all players in the NBA. Presumably, the PER of a starter would be in most cases higher than that average, since starters should have higher averages than end of bench players. Regardless, only Ibaka rates out as above average, due primarily to his blocked shots. Ellis, and especially Jordan and Bradley, are well-below average.
Lebron was fantastic in last year's playoffs, but even he can't overcome horrific performances like the above.