Miami Heat: Is LeBron James the Best Power Forward in the NBA?

Less than 24 hours later, Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals is already a classic.

The Miami Heat took a commanding 3-1 lead, but like much of their success in these playoffs, it's been anything but pretty.

The Heat have now won three straight—all fought tooth-and-nail to the final few possessions—and have all along shown a grit that escaped the franchise and its star player last June.

Game 4 proved to be a thing of fairytales for the NBA—a plot voluminous enough to interest fans with an eye toward the approaching summer.

From LeBron James' one-legged heroics, to Russell Westbrook's masterpiece, to the contribution of the scarcely-seen Mario Chalmers—this was one for the ages.

Amid a frantic finish, overshadowed was the fact this Heat team rallied from a whopping 17-point deficit in the first half.

And they did it on the back of their superstar small forward.

At least on paper, that is. The longer the Heat's postseason has progressed, the longer James has spent at the block, mimicking the moves of a seasoned power forward.

Tuesday night, James caught the ball low and soon abolished the deficit—either muscling his way to the ring or finding an open perimeter shooter off the double team.

It's no secret that LeBron James' post game has developed out of sight in the past six months, but could he now claim the mantle of the best power forward in the game?

Here are five reasons to consider it.

Strength

A no-brainer first up.

We are talking about the power forward position, aren't we?

Strength is something James has in spades.

You'd only have to ask Chicago's Kyle Korver—he attempted to tackle James in the 2011 Eastern Conference finals and ended up sprawled on his back on the baseline.

Oh, and James made the layup too.

There's not another guy in the league who can match James' pound-for-pound explosiveness. The Heat star is listed at 250lbs but is likely closer to 270lbs, according to many inside sources.

Touch

Perhaps it's the nightly exposure to Dwyane Wade's high-glass banks.

Or maybe it's the frequent postseason examination of Rajon Rondo's soft layups.

Either way, James has developed a deft touch around the rim—an obvious contrast to the hard-handed reputation he carried through his early years at Cleveland.

It's still a far cry from the exhibits of modern-day giants Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki, but the Heat star is starting to catch more friendly rolls than he isn't.

And never has it been more widely on display than during his recent low-block battles against Thabo Sefolosha, Kevin Durant and James Harden.

Durability

Game 4 proved that LeBron James was, just like the rest of us, human after all.

"I wanted to walk to the bench, but my legs wouldn't allow me," said James, after being forced off with cramp.

"He's a freak of nature," Udonis Haslem added, "but he's still a human being."

Up until this point, James has been an immovable, impenetrable object during his nine seasons in the league.

No major injuries have cut seasons short or deprived him of his incredible nightly numbers.

While many of the league's paint-dwellers have been sidelined for lengthy periods, James' health is a model of consistency. He possesses the kind of durability that could enable him to make a seamless switch to the four position, should he choose to.

Cramp or no cramp, James will be back on Thursday night, just like he is every other night of his career.

Passing

James has always warmed to the role of facilitator.

It was Pat Riley who sold him the "Magic Johnson" vision prior to his South Beach endeavour.

It's possible James is as dangerous distributing the leather as he is putting his shoulder down and charging to the hoop.

LeBron has a unique ability to catch the ball in the post and see over the defense, hitting shooters with precision bullet passes in their preferred spots around the arc.

Through Tuesday night's first half, it quickly wiped away the Thunder's early lead.

By the third quarter, it had given the Heat the upper hand.

In single coverage James would bully his way to the hole for either an easy bucket or two free throws.  When James was double-teamed, Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier and Norris Cole would all knock down open perimeter shots.

Quite simply, James distributes the ball better than anyone from the block.

Defense

LeBron James has pulled down 9.7 rebounds a night through the postseason—that's more than Pau Gasol and Tim Duncan.

In fact, James has grabbed more boards than any other player in these playoffs.

Most nights, James' defense is dictated by the hole Erik Spoelstra needs filled.

With the Heat bringing an undersized frontcourt for the most part—especially in Chris Bosh's absence—James has routinely guarded the four and five positions.

Despite his length disadvantage, James' incredible strength has prevented him from being bullied down low.

Perhaps James' greatest asset on the defensive end is his basketball IQ.

On the rare occasions James has been beaten to the hole, he's been willing to concede a layup or resist the temptation to leave his feet.

Evidently, James knows his value to his team.

These playoffs have been rife with star players heading to the bench with early foul trouble—biting on head-fakes and subscribing to the notion that points are to be earned at the charity stripe.

LeBron James might not have Tim Duncan's bank shot or Dirk Nowitzki's elbow jumper.

But he might just be the most complete power forward in the NBA.