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Miami Heat: Business as usual against Cleveland Cavaliers

By Brandon Johnson

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 27: James Johnson #16 and Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat stretch on the court before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 27, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 27: James Johnson #16 and Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat stretch on the court before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 27, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Miami Heat look to reestablish their winning ways against the Cleveland Cavaliers, tonight at 8 PM ET.

The Miami Heat can’t catch a break.

After going toe-to-toe with the Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors, the Heat have a huge challenge ahead of them.

That’s right, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Yes, the 8-27 Cavaliers might pose the Heat their biggest challenge yet.

After being pushed to the limit against three of the top teams in the NBA, Miami needs to pace itself against the worst team in the NBA.

In other words, don’t take this game for granted.

Since parting ways with LeBron James, the Cavaliers have quietly spiraled out of the spotlight.

Cleveland traded Kyle Korver and Rodney Hood, two integral role players in the 2018 playoffs, for up-and-comers Sam Dekker and Alec Burks.

The team also lost Kevin Love to a toe injury and has displaced JR Smith, who is hoping to sign with a contender following a buyout.

This dysfunction creates a smoke and mirrors act which, if Miami isn’t careful, could sent the Heat to their second straight loss.

Earlier this season, the Heat lost to a similarly bad team in the Atlanta Hawks. The Heat gave up a huge night to rookie Trae Young who, despite being covered by Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow for most of the game, managed to pile on 24 points and 15 assists in the Hawks’ win.

Cleveland doesn’t boast a player as intuitively abusive as Young at his best, though Jordan Clarkson could heat up against Miami tonight. As the Cleveland Cavaliers’ leading scorer (17.1 per game), Clarkson has nothing to lose should with high volume shooting.

Really, Clarkson had the nerve to blow kisses to his ex-girlfriend Kendall Jenner, after closing out the Philadelphia 76ers last month.

The dude doesn’t care anymore.

Collin Sexton is also of note, though his smaller frame and limited jumper should make for easy pickings if he decides to attack Miami’s fortified defenses.

Otherwise, Miami’s game plan is business as usual. Throw in a few peeks at the zone defense, a couple Bam Adebayo and Hassan Whiteside alley-oops, and a handful of Winslow triples, and Miami has the recipe for walling out the Association’s weakest link.

Next. Miami Heat: How Hassan Whiteside, Bam Adebayo are causing a revolution. dark

Miami, rocking their “Sunset Vice” look, will tip-off at 8 PM ET.

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