A Potential Cavs - Heat Series

[Kizzle]

My biggest fear is actually if we got the Lebron we saw Vs the Heat last time Cavs played them. He was extremely buddy buddy and it didn't seem like he played hard. If I see that Lebron I'd throw up

 

[Scrote Squad]

This Dragic trade shows how badly we overpaid for Love. Never should have included the Mia first. Completely bid against ourselves.

I doubt you can back up that statement with any facts. But what you need to consider is that Dragic isn't in the same class as Love, either in talent or fit. Most consider Love to be a top 3 PF...Dragic doesn't scratch my top 10 PG list.

 

[AZCavs]

I doubt you can back up that statement with any facts. But what you need to consider is that Dragic isn't in the same class as Love, either in talent or fit. Most consider Love to be a top 3 PF...Dragic doesn't scratch my top 10 PG list.

On top of that, Dragic could legitimately walk after the season whereas there isn't a chance Love bails after one season in Cleveland to take less money on a non contender.

 

[castor777]

While plenty relies on Wade being healthy, the Heat still have a lot more playoff experience than the Cavs do. I dig the optimism on here that isn't scared of the Heat, but I really wouldn't want to face them in the first round when Kyrie and Love are just getting their first experience in the postseason.

Having said that, yes I still think the Cavs would win the series. I think it could potentially go 6 games, but the Heat lack the outside shooting to beat us 4 times.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Cavs in 6... We have better talent, better depth, star players.

I'm scared, Fellas. Speak words of comfort to me. With Whiteside and Dragic, the Heat will be unstoppable. They have no holes.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Sure, the Heat's starting line up is pretty good. Beyond them, they have almost nothing of value though. Wade's health is crucial. If he is fully healthy and playing well then they could be a challenge.

Just to have a visual, these are what I imagine the match ups would be in a series:

Kyrie ---- Dragic
Shump --- Wade
LBJ -------- Deng
Love ------- Bosh
Moz -------- Whiteside

Seems pretty evenly matched. Yet once those 6th, and seventh men start entering the game then our advantage really becomes obvious. Bringing TT, Smith, and Delly off the bench is a nice luxury. Not to mention we still have Marion, and Miller to step in in case injuries occur. The Heat have nothing of that caliber.

Maybe I'm unknowingly wearing the wine colored glasses but I still like our chances against Miami. We're deeper, and more talented in my opinion.

It feels nice to be able to say it again, but we still have Lebron James in a playoff series.

Cardiac- I am as terrified of the current Heat line-up as I am of your avatar.

 

[Pioneer10]

If healthy, they a legit title contender and the East suddenly has 4-5 teams which could beat the Western Conf winner.

Whiteside really helps them with regards to rim protection but the big concern has to be 3 point shooting with them. Bosh is probably their best 3 point shooter. Deng can hit the 3 but him Dragic, and Wade are all more mid range guys. I think you pack the paint and go under all the picks to make their wings prove that they can beat you with the 3.

Mozgov better be healthy as well on the opposite side with us. If healthy he'll help stuff out the drives. Without him we will have a much harder time keeping them out of the paint and forcing the Heat into becoming a jumpshooting squad

 

[Jscc]

I didn't understand this hype over Dragic. He's a 29 year old [will be in May] point guard that averages 4.5 assists for his career.

Going to Miami, however, turns him into a possible Mozgov.

I can't wait for March 16.

 

[Kbiz]

All depends on Wade's health. That is what it boils down to. Deng will have to find the fountain of youth as well too. He had a great game against us the first time we played them but was practically non-existent the second time.

I don't expect LBJ to be buddy buddy with anyone in the playoffs. During the regular season, it's a tea party. During the playoffs, its all out war.

 

[jlegg21]

They hit a home run with this deal, but the Cavs just outclassed them 2nd to last game before the break (without wade, but that's probably what they are at this point). I saw a Cavs team that had the best player, more athleticism, better shooting by far, and better rebounding.

Plenty of weaknesses. They still lack outside shooting, Wade's health/lack of explosiveness, Deng cant shoot anymore, their guards outside of Dragic are either brittle or terrible, and their bench and overall depth is horrible.

Positives are obvious. A legit PG fills their biggest need. They completely lucked out with Whiteside, even though I see a correction to the mean coming. Dragic and Bosh will play off each other extremely well, especially PnR/PnP. If Wade is healthy, Dragic will make his life easier and allow him to play off the ball. Their pace should pick up now that they have a legit PG.

I still like the Cavs in 5, maybe 6 if Wade is feeling good. The better team still resides in Cleveland.

 

[AZCavs]

*Checks Heat troster for LeBron James*

Nope, no chance for the Heat. Not scared. Anyone who is, well, hahahahahahahahahahaha.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Cavs in 5.

 

[AZCavs]

These last minute trades done something intriguing -
You have 2 8th seed teams - Miami and OKC (won't stay 9th for long) who became really strong.
Imagine if the first round would take place next week - Atlanta vs Miami series or a GSW vs OKC series - not an easy task to choose the winner, don't you think?

Atlanta would thrash Miami in a seven game series.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Think the Dragic move is being given too much credit.

If(when) Miami pays him this summer, they're locked into that roster, which is not a title contender, until Wade falls off completely and Bosh begins to fade. They're asset depleted, and they're still not as good as the top 2 in the East.

 

[bigfoot5415]

Regardless of the MIA trade, I want to avoid them in the 1st round if at all possible. Too much possible emotion on the line. Remember how we used to talk about maybe sneaking in the playoffs when LBJ was in Miami. Thought we could atleast put up a fight. I think Miami would push it to 6 games, and I would mush rather play Milwaukee after losing their best player, or Charlotte.