Cavaliers and Heat look destined for matchup
Nothing would make a casual fan watch the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs, except one thing; the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat matching wits in the conference final.
It has been widely assumed that the Cavaliers are going to roll into the NBA Finals for the second time in as many years behind the powerful trio of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and LeBron James. While Cleveland would certainly be overwhelming favorites against the Heat, one would have to wonder how James would respond playing against his former teammates and best friend in Dwyane Wade.
James is perhaps the greatest player we have seen on the hardwood since the legendary Michael Jordan, but he is not without flaw. Many have questioned whether James is mentally tough, at times wilting under the pressure throughout his career. There are ample examples, including bad performances in the Finals, specifically against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks.
All that said, James has two titles to his name. Wade on the other hand has three, winning twice with James as his star castmate and another earlier in his career with Pat Riley on the sideline and Shaquille O’Neal in the paint. Wade is the ultimate winner, and somebody who can’t be counted out when healthy like he is now.
The Cavaliers are certainly going to get to the conference finals, only having to beat the Atlanta Hawks in the second round. While Atlanta has some nice players including Paul Millsap, Al Horford, Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague, it is not going to take the Cavaliers down barring divine intervention or injuries.
Miami will have a much harder time in its second round affair, taking on the No. 2 seed Toronto Raptors. However, the Heat have already stolen Game 1 and home-court advantage, beating the Raptors in overtime at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night. Miami has the inferior record but is playing superior basketball at the right time of the year.
The series would be so much more intriguing if Chris Bosh were playing, but he has been shut down for much of the season with a blood clot issue that began in 2015. While Bosh maintains he can play, the Heat are saying they have no intention of letting him back onto the court for his own well-being.
Regardless, we should all be rooting for the Heat and Cavaliers to play in the conference finals. It will give us the only ounce of drama possible from this lacking group of teams in the East. Plus, how could you not want to see Wade and James go at it for the first time in a playoff series?
More than any other sport, the NBA depends on stars. What better series than two great ones, and great friends, battling for it all?
