Here's part of the reason LeBron needs to have legit counterpart. If he is allowed to just cheat on defense and save energy, he is likely to be that much more likely to succeed on offense, as it leads to many steals and fast break points.
Again, that really wasn't the case against Dallas in 2010.
I guess the trouble I have with a lot of the arguments in the thread is that most of the reasoning has already been proven wrong.
I think this is a good exercise, because I don't think these are really arguments that I'd make.
Argument: Lebron can't lose unless he's got a small forward on him who can both score and play elite defense.
Reality: Lebron lost in the 2010 Finals, despite playing against Shawn Marion.
For this argument my own points are different in two fundamental ways; 1) there should be an athletic long 3 who can make an effort at defending LeBron (and the weaker the defense from the 3 is, the stronger it needs to be up front), and 2) A larger point, there should be scorers, and there should be shooters, at least 3 3pt shooters in the lineup at all times with at least 4 guys who can hit a shot from 15 ft away from the basket, or more.
Gerald Wallace is not a defender on Marion's level now, let alone 3 years ago, and despite a spectacular 7 game run against Chicago, he's not a reliable shooter. So he's a decent option defensively, and a poor option offensively. Net negative for me.
Argument: Lebron is unbeatable unless the other team clearly trumps him at all other positions.
Reality: Lebron lost to Dallas despite having Wade and Bosh, and should have lost against San Antonio. He's won two titles in ten years, and again, one of those titles had to be gifted to him, despite having two other all-stars.
I don't wholly agree with this either, but I do think you need to have a much better overall team, and a very well constructed one, plus at least 2-3 star quality players, and possibly more depending on LeBron's supporting cast.
Argument: Lebron radically makes things easier on his teammates, amplifying their shooting percentages.
Reality: There's very little amplifying effect, if any. Lebron certainly isn't turning inefficient players into efficient ones.
I think that LeBron does indeed make things easier on his teammates, but he's not a cure-all for poor efficiency by any means. I'm sympathetic to the 'well if anyone can help Monta Ellis its LeBron', but nobody can help Monta Ellis.
Argument: There's no such thing as a "wrong" opinion.
Reality: (Biting my tongue.)
I think any opinion can be valid as long as it acknowledges that mine is correct.