It’s finally time. The NBA playoffs are here. It’s felt like the season’s last two months have dragged along, all to get to this moment. After Miami’s overtime win Friday against the Hawks, the Cavs’ first-round matchup is set. Let’s dive into who the Heat are and some matchups to watch for in this first-round matchup.
Who are the 2024-2025 Heat?
If you haven’t been paying attention, the Heat have had quite the tumultuous season, largely due to superstar Jimmy Butler. The drama began in May of last year when Jimmy claimed the Heat would have beaten Boston last year in the postseason if he had been healthy. This prompted Heat president Pat Riley to retort that Butler should “keep [his] mouth shut” if not playing. Later in June, contract extensions faltered, with Jimmy seeking a max deal and Riley hesitant to deliver due to Butler’s age and injury history. By December of this season, trade rumors intensified, leading to Butler eventually getting traded to the Warriors after multiple suspensions.
The Jimmy Butlerless Heat are now led by Tyler Herro, who has enjoyed a career year in all categories. In the play-in tournament, he scored 38 against Chicago on Wednesday and 30 against Atlanta on Friday, proving he can rise to the occasion when needed.
Heat Culture, while one of the corniest things in the NBA today, does exist. Just look how they scrapped back against Atlanta in their play-in game Friday. The Heat have an innate ability to win games they should not win. This will be a hard-fought series, no doubt.
Key Matchups
Bam Adebayo vs Jarrett Allen is going to be a key matchup this series. Bam continues to be a cornerstone for Miami as a leader on both ends of the court. Allen must live up to his full defensive capability to hinder Bam’s ability to score and facilitate.
Max Strus’ defense on Herro is also going to be pivotal for the Cavs in this series. As aforementioned, Herro is having a career year and has been lethal on offense. Likely the primary defender on Herro in the series, Strus will be tasked with disrupting his rhythm and forcing Miami to rely on secondary scoring options.
Final Thoughts
The Cavs are clearly the more talented team in this series, but the Heat should not be taken lightly. Miami has a kind of devil’s magic that seems to always show up for the playoffs. With that being said, I fully expect the Cavs to take care of business the same way they have all season. Cavs in five.
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