There was absolutely zero chance the Cleveland Cavaliers were going to win Saturday night in Miami. This does not have anything to do with the Heat being a better team, which they are. The fact Cleveland has not won in Miami since LeBron’s first Cavaliers stint was also not a factor (fun fact the second-leading scorer in that victory was Shaq). This had everything to do with Dwyane Wade having his number retired. The result was predetermined, it was in the cosmos. Miami was going to slaughter Cleveland and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Cleveland was again on the wrong side of the final score 124-105.
The 19-point differential in the final score is not indicative of how lopsided the score was. Miami was up by 30 at the half and could have easily handed the Cavs their worst loss in franchise history if they really tried and this would have been without Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro. (The worst loss in team history is 55 points to the Lakers on January 11, 2011).
Cleveland was without Kevin Love for the contest, but his presence would not have made that much of a difference. Not when Miami was running in circles around Cleveland for 48 minutes.
What this loss will serve is as an opportunity for J.B. Bickerstaff to sit down and teach the younger players on his team. The veterans have been through this before, but some of the guys like Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, and Kevin Porter Jr. could use a guiding voice at this moment in time. The high of winning the night before followed by a lopsided loss is not easy to come to terms with. It’s all about the long game in Cleveland and dwelling on one loss in a lost season will not accomplish anything.
