Miami Heat: Atlanta Hawks And Cavaliers Final Two Round 1 Contestants

Kyle Lowry #7 of the Miami Heat looks on during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Kyle Lowry #7 of the Miami Heat looks on during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
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Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon (21) battles for position with Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4)(Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports)

Miami Heat: Beating Them Both To Close Year, Neither Would Be A Huge Threat

Atlanta can score with the best of them, as seen in their blowout win over the Hornets, while Cleveland can put up a few points when they get going as well behind Darius Garland.

The Cavs, however, want to get stops and can with their length, especially if Jarrett Allen goes, while the Hawks are challenged in that area.

Though Atlanta found a way to make a few stops against the Hornets, that was more of a function of getting out to a better start offensively, as a whole, while being able to make more shots than the Hornets did throughout.

With that said, you have to think that Cleveland stands the best chance to win this one.

Either way it goes, either of them should lose to the Miami Heat in the first round and not closely. The series, either of them, wouldn’t go more than five and six by the most fortunate stroke of luck, in the Heat’s favor of course.

Only Friday will tell but either way, you know the Miami Heat will be ready for whoever.