The Cleveland Cavaliers are gearing up to face the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs, marking a significant moment for both teams. The Cavaliers were leading the league in 3-point shooting percentage prior to March 11. As they look ahead to the postseason, they will be hoping to continue to press this advantage. The Heat have just set a new precedent! They are the first 10-seed team to survive the play-in tournament and make the playoffs.
Each of those teams looks to create separation and establish themselves as the clear favorite in this critical clash. Many things can change the direction of the series.
Cavaliers’ 3-Point Shooting Decline
Up until March 11, the Cavs were basking in the glory of their league-wide supremacy, leading the league in 3-point shooting accuracy. This amazing run of form had them looking like the most threatening challengers in the Eastern Conference. In recent weeks, the Cavs have struggled with shooting efficiency across the board, especially from All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell had been shooting 39% from deep before the All-Star break. Cleveland cooled off tremendously following the break, shooting just 30% from the field. This downturn can lead to some understandable doubts about his ability to lead the high-powered offense as the playoffs kick off.
Even with Darius Garland’s injury, the Cavaliers possess a handful of assets that could help counterbalance these worries. The team is loaded with outstanding playmakers, headlined by Darius Garland. He and Mitchell just make great play after great play and big shot after big shot. Their combined skill sets will be key in keeping constant offensive pressure on Miami’s defense.
Defensive Strengths Bolstered by Back Line
The Cavaliers hold perhaps the largest advantage on this list by way of their elite defensive alignment. Their back line – Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen – is the centerpiece to this success. This duo is great at masking a lot of defensive warts. Tremendously, they’ve created a great safety net which keeps the currently hapless team competitive even as the offensive production has noticeably tanked.
Mobley and Allen need to control the paint. They’ll be critical to taking advantage of Miami’s shortcomings, particularly with the Heat’s penchant for losing the handles on late-game situations. The Heat have been the worst fourth quarter team all season long. These battles frequently lead to significant breakdowns, even following stellar showings in the preceding phases. The Cavaliers should focus on exposing this weakness by crashing the glass and forcing the inside presence into foul trouble.
Cleveland’s defensive strategy will heavily rely on Mobley and Allen’s ability to contest shots at the rim while supporting perimeter defense as needed. This match-up will likely be one of the biggest keys to limiting Miami’s offensive explosion.
Miami Heat’s Historic Play-In Journey
In addition to making history, the Miami Heat have entered these playoffs with a chip on their shoulder and a focus to prove all the doubters wrong. In doing so, they became the first 10-seed team to exit the play-in tournament. This year, they hope to get past the opening knockout stage as they did a year ago.
The Heat have been a really tough team all year long. Their habitual crumbling when it matters most has cast doubt on their postseason preparedness. The team would put together a phenomenal three quarters then completely flop when it comes down to the wire.
Miami needs to get out of the gate hot in Game 1. They have to play with a level head for all four quarters to make up for these deficiencies. Their success could depend on making the right rotations and forcing as few turnovers as possible against a steady Cavaliers team.
Looking Ahead
With Game 1 just around the corner, both teams will be very conscious of what is at stake. The Cavaliers are eager to reclaim their early-season form while managing Mitchell’s shooting struggles. Along with shutting down their offense, UTSAs best chance at taking down Miami lies in their top-tier defense to stifle a Mayes-led eye-popping offense.
The Heat need to get a better way of converting that aggressiveness into regular displays on a quarter-to-quarter basis. Regardless, the result of this brief series may very well establish a tone for their postseason hopes heading into the future.
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