2024-25 Playoffs | Miami Series | Game #1 | Heat @ Cavs | April 20, 2025 | 7:00 p.m.

Dr No said:
I’d have to go back and really watch to see if I’m right, but I’m thinking/hoping the reason we were so iso heavy and point guard centric on offense is that was what Miami was trying to make us do. They had to know that if we had our regular ball movement and inside game with Mobley/Allen that they had no chance. So I think they just let DG, GM & Ty go 1 v 1 all night hoping those 3 alone wouldn’t beat them.
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I did not see them lighten up on either Garland or Mitchell, but both of those guys were able to break through the high doubles and lane traffic with crazy level moves.. Garland with his shifty handling, floaters and 39 foot triples, Mitchell with a whole new level of athleticism.in traffic. And we'll cant leave Jerome out of that, he is both crafty and lethal from three. Miami had no answer for him..

Damian Mitchell and Duncan Robinson were the most difficult to stop, but they weren't enough..
 
Adam said:
I think more needs to be made of Strus game. Played the connector role perfectly. He's a playoff performer
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100%. Playoff level defense can make good shots hard to find, so players must keep the ball moving to find the best shot possible in a given possession. Ball movement was our calling card during the regular season and has to remain so in the playoffs.
 
Strus is locked in...Agreed...
 
Donovan was 9-for-10 on 2-point shots, all of which were at the rim if I'm not mistaken. He was 2-for-9 on 3's. Like I said in the preview, the Cavs should attack the rim relentlessly. Miami ranks last in blocked shot percentage and 23rd in defending shots at the rim. Forget the 3-ball, attack the rim. They are so thin they can't afford to get in foul trouble.

He can get to the rim almost anytime he wants, including in the playoffs. - Mike Fratello on Donovan Mitchell
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
I still say Mobley is overrated because he has no touch around the rim. He frequently missed 2-3 foot shots and his dribbling usually results in a turnover.
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I might not go as far to say he’s overrated, I think he’s a major contributor to a champion team….. but if we’re expecting him to take us to the promised land, I’m not seeing it. At the end of the day, it’s gonna be Garland and Mitchell on what they do on how far we go……. Don’t get me wrong. We’re going to need a team effort from everybody, but we need superstar play from those guys…..
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
Donovan was 9-for-10 on 2-point shots, all of which were at the rim if I'm not mistaken. He was 2-for-9 on 3's. Like I said in the preview, the Cavs should attack the rim relentlessly. Miami ranks last in blocked shot percentage and 23rd in defending shots at the rim. Forget the 3-ball, attack the rim. They are so thin they can't afford to get in foul trouble.

He can get to the rim almost anytime he wants, including in the playoffs. - Mike Fratello on Donovan Mitchell
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I agree with attacking the rim in general but when Miami goes zone and packs the lane then we have to adjust and destroy them with three point shooting.

We can wreck the Heat defense inside or outside, so take whatever they give us. Our coaches and players are smart enough to do that.

More importantly we have three very good playmakers /shooters who can score inside and outside (our top three scorers last night) plus Mobley who shoots threes and scores inside. We also have Merrill and Hunter and Strus as shooters.

Unless you have defensive personnel like OKC we’re and extremely difficult team to defend because we have too many options for teams to cover.

Miami is a perfect first round opponent for us because they change their defense often and our guys have to react quickly. This will serve us well in later rounds.
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
Donovan was 9-for-10 on 2-point shots, all of which were at the rim if I'm not mistaken. He was 2-for-9 on 3's. Like I said in the preview, the Cavs should attack the rim relentlessly. Miami ranks last in blocked shot percentage and 23rd in defending shots at the rim. Forget the 3-ball, attack the rim. They are so thin they can't afford to get in foul trouble.

He can get to the rim almost anytime he wants, including in the playoffs. - Mike Fratello on Donovan Mitchell
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Not only get there but finish.
 
CleveRocks said:
Like I said earlier, I am glad it was the heat to play us. We need to feel the challenge before we see round 2 opponent.
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Do you believe there is something to be gained by having a tougher opponent in the first round? I'm not saying there isn't, I'm just asking for thinking on this.
 
2 For The Brew said:
Why is there so much harping on Ty’s offseason status in Game 1 of the first playoff series?

This is the effing game thread. Take that shit somewhere else.

“We can’t enjoy the game because one day we’ll DIE DIE DIE!!!!”

All of those comments are just designed to piss on our parade. Miserable posts.
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Completely agree. Best to ignore them.
 
Melancholy Jaques said:
Do you believe there is something to be gained by having a tougher opponent in the first round? I'm not saying there isn't, I'm just asking for thinking on this.
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I think there is because I was traumatized by the 2009 sweeping the first 2 rounds and then running into the magic.

Whole series decided by 5 pts. If they had played the heat like we are now, they would have won.

Just gets you ready for the tricks and makes you work your way through it. Better to practice on a good team that isn't a great offense before you meet a juggernaut like the Celtics.
 
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