Previewing Cavs opponents: Miami Heat
Cavs news and links for Wednesday, September 25.
The first sip
The Miami Heat are a team you can’t afford to ignore. Even when you think they are no longer a threat, they find a way to shock you. The Cleveland Cavaliers could learn a thing or two from the Heat — but entering the new season, Miami’s “Michael Myers” run might finally end.
Resilience has been a theme for the Heat. They’ve excelled as underdogs and will continue to get the benefit of the doubt even as the talent on their roster dwindles and their stars rise in age. Jimmy Butler might not have much left in the tank at 35 years old but writing him, Bam Adebayo and Erik Spoelstra off has been a routine mistake for teams in the Eastern Conference.
Health will likely be the determining factor. This squad isn’t exactly built for regular season success, but a fully healthy roster could make them dark horse contenders in the playoffs.
How the Cavs played the Heat last season
Miami has never been a pleasant place for the Cavs to play. Cleveland has won their season series against the Heat just twice in the last 14 seasons. Last year was no exception — with the Heat winning three of four matchups by an average of 24 points.
The Cavaliers certainly field a better roster, on paper. But the grit and determination of Miami has consistently given them trouble. As I said, the Cavs could learn a few things from the toughness shown by their Eastern Conference rival.
Cavs vs Heat this season
- at Miami - Dec. 8
- at Miami - Jan. 29
- at Home - March 5
Notable players who have played for both franchises
- LeBron James, ever heard of him? I’d wager James will have his jersey retired by both franchises in due time. Nine NBA Finals appearances and three titles will usually get the job done in that department.
- Kevin Love made his decision to arrive in South Beach after an abrupt buy-out from the Cavaliers in 2023. Love reached the NBA Finals in his first year with the Heat — continuing his spotless playoff record against the Eastern Conference before eventually losing his first series to an inner-conference foe in 2024.
- Shaquille O’Neal has found himself on previous versions of this list and he’ll show up a few more times. What can I say, the guy played for a lot of NBA teams. His stint in Miami was one of the more memorable ones, finishing second in MVP during his first year and winning a title in the next.