Reacting to the Cavs’ first spherical playoff matchup with the Miami Warmth: Wine and Gold Discuss podcast

takeaways

• The Cavs will face the Miami Warmth within the first spherical of the playoffs.
• Miami’s expertise might be an element within the sequence.
• Cavs have a powerful fourth-quarter efficiency document.
• Miami’s protection has proven inconsistency this season.
• Cavs can exploit Miami’s lack of depth.
• Bam Adebayo might not pose important issues for the Cavs.
• Cavs have a extra full roster than Miami.
• The significance of defensive methods within the sequence.
• Cavs’ offensive firepower is a key benefit.
• Each hosts predict Cavs will win the sequence in 5 video games.

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Learn the automated transcript of immediately’s podcast under. As a result of it’s a computer-generated transcript, it could include errors and misspellings.

Ethan Sands: What up, Cavs nation? I’m your host, Ethan Sez, and I’m again with one other episode of the Wine and Gold Discuss podcast. It’s me and Chris Fedor immediately, Cavs beat reporter, and we’re coming to you with the official announcement of who the Cavs will probably be taking part in within the first spherical of the playoffs. It will likely be the Miami Warmth. They beat The Atlanta Hawks 123, 114 within the remaining sport of the play in match for the Japanese Convention on Friday night time. We clearly all know.

Chris Fedor: Let’s go.

Ethan Sands: Precisely. Chris Fedor is extraordinarily excited for this as a result of which means he doesn’t must go to Atlanta. Unlucky for the Cavs followers and the Cavs gamers who’re trying ahead to taking part in towards Karris Lavert and George Niang if that was what occurred. However Chris, now we’ve got the chance to interrupt down the completely different matchups, the completely different situations and ways that will probably be used towards the Cleveland Cavaliers by the Miami Warmth. And so they have two days of preparation to prepare. Effectively, mainly simply sooner or later of preparation to prepare, figuring out who they are going to be going through. And so they’ll get to try this rather a lot tomorrow and at follow, and we’ll get to speak to them afterwards. Chris, what’s the greatest factor that stands out to you on the subject of the Miami Warmth and the potential matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Chris Fedor: I believe the factor that stands out to me, Ethan, is their guys. Their guys have been by means of issues that the Cavs gamers haven’t been by means of, and there’s no substitute for expertise. And I believe that is the sort of workforce that might profit the Cavs as they transfer ahead. Enjoying towards Bam Adebayo and the physicality of him and having to take care of Eric Spoelstra as a chess grasp and a playoff tactician, and Andrew Wiggins, who has been to the NBA Finals earlier than, Tyler Herro, who’s a extremely, actually good guard, dribbling, capturing, passing like he’s, doing a lot for Miami on the offensive finish of the ground. It’s simply fairly good preparation, truthfully, for what’s forward, the harder matchups which might be forward for the Cavs. So I don’t, I don’t assume there’s a scenario the place there must be any nerves. There must be any considered Miami beating the Cavs 4 instances in seven tries. However, however I do assume that these are the sorts of sequence {that a} workforce just like the Cavs can profit from simply due to the varied ways in which they’re going to be, quote, unquote, examined and the varied issues that they’re going to see that which might be going to assist them translate issues just a little bit higher into the second spherical and into the convention finals in the event that they get that far.

Ethan Sands: Chris, when the play in match turned a factor in 2021, proper. Like since then there’s solely been forward of this season, There have been solely two groups that have been quantity 10 seeds that ended up defeating the quantity 9 seed to make it into the deciding sport. And the Warmth and The Mavericks added two extra wins to that whole. So the quantity 10 seed at the moment are 4, 6 in preliminary taking part in video games since 2021. However I do wish to level out simply going by means of the matchup that occurred on Friday night time, the Warmth versus the Atlanta Hawks. And I believe we are able to all be sincere, proper, it didn’t appear to be both of those groups, as Chris was mentioning, would pose a battle to the Cavs. One, as a result of I believe all people had figured that outdoors of the percentages betters who had Atlanta as the favourite on their dwelling court docket. I believe Miami was a workforce that individuals checked out and have been like, they’ve the items to take down this workforce they usually have the items to take down the Atlanta Hawks. However I do assume that simply the general outlook, the general having to play as many video games within the play in match to get this far, it provides put on and tear to the physique, proper? It provides issues that you need to absorb thoughts into the conditioning of those gamers. And positive, the mindset goes to be there as they face the Cavs on Sunday at Rocket area for the primary sport of the Japanese Convention first spherical of the playoffs. However I believe it’s extraordinarily vital to notice that this sport didn’t really feel very aggressive till just like the fourth quarter. The Miami Warmth had an enormous lead after which that they had let Atlanta come all the best way again and take their first lead of the sport in that fourth quarter. What did you’re taking away from this matchup specifically the ultimate taking part in sport matchup between Miami and Atlanta that the Cavs might look to use?

Chris Fedor: Effectively, that’s the factor that Miami has completed all through the course of the season, Ethan. We talked about it the opposite night time on the podcast. I believe there are 13 or 15 video games the place they’ve led within the fourth quarter and people become losses. So they simply haven’t been ready to determine persistently greatest shut out these video games. And look, a part of that’s due to every part that that went chaotic with Jimmy Butler. You recognize, Jimmy Butler was their nearer. Jimmy Butler was the man that they went to in late sport conditions both to create for himself or create for others. So now abruptly you begin altering the Roles and the tasks of a few of these guys on the fly. And generally bam. Adebayo just isn’t comfy in these conditions, having to create on his personal. Typically, you recognize, the protection goes to ship a number of defenders on Tyler Herro and take the ball out of his hand, palms. And he’s not as outfitted to take care of that sort of technique as a result of it’s a brand new factor for him. As a result of Davion Mitchell, you recognize, has been out and in of the lineup, out and in of late sport conditions as a result of, you recognize, Andrew Wiggins just isn’t the perfect ISO creator on his personal. So I believe a part of that needed to do with the truth that they misplaced Jimmy they usually sort of like misplaced a cloth of their workforce, particularly in late sport conditions. However you noticed that, you noticed that towards Atlanta. Atlanta was capable of erase a 17 level deficit. Atlanta was capable of reclaim the lead within the fourth quarter. You recognize, at one level by means of the primary six quarters of the 2 taking part in video games, Miami by no means trailed. So there was like a degree of consistency that they have been displaying at varied factors throughout this play in match till the fourth quarter, which has been a foul behavior for. And when you simply translate it over to a possible Cav sequence, what’s one of many issues that the Cavs have been greatest at this yr? Taking a lead within the fourth quarter, closing these video games out. They’ve been among the finest fourth quarter groups within the NBA. Did they’ve slippage within the second half of the season? Sure, they did. Did Darius Garland have some inefficiency in sure video games down the stretch of the season? Sure, they did. However Darius is within the dialog for clutch participant of the yr. Darius was among the finest fourth quarter performers and the Cavs as a workforce statist have been among the finest fourth quarter groups within the NBA. So that may be a clear factor the place you take a look at it and say one workforce, it’s their weak spot, the opposite workforce, it’s their energy. Ought to be benefit caps. Proper? Then you definately begin trying just a little bit additional into this matchup and also you take a look at how Miami dealt with every part all through the course of tonight’s sport towards Atlanta and the fellows that they performed, the fellows that they needed to give huge minutes to as a result of that’s simply how they’re constructed. You recognize, they mainly play a seven man rotation. Yeah, there are a few guys that, you recognize, relying on the matchup, relying on the scenario, Kyle Anderson, Duncan Robinson, nevertheless the sport goes, no matter it’s that Miami believes it wants in a specific lineup, they’ll go to these guys. But it surely’s mainly a seven man rotation. So now, you take a look at the Cavs and also you say, effectively, they’ll go 10 deep, proper? They’ll put on down Miami. They don’t must ask as a lot from their primary guys in a sequence towards the Warmth. So when you begin trying on the completely different areas, effectively, benefit Cavs on the subject of the bench, considerably. So that you begin similar to breaking it down that sort of manner, primarily based on what you’ve seen from Miami all through the course of the season and naturally, what they confirmed in these two taking part in video games. And also you say, effectively, there are two spots instantly that bounce to thoughts which might be benefit Cavs that they need to have the ability to exploit.

Ethan Sands: Chris, simply to go just a little bit extra in depth on the play in match historical past that was made, I discussed the preliminary video games and the way groups which might be the tenth seed at the moment are simply 4 and 6 in these preliminary contests. The Miami Warmth are the primary workforce in NBA play in match historical past to win each of these video games as a quantity 10 seed and get into the playoffs. So, sure, we’ve talked rather a lot about how they’ve this playoff pedigree. They’ve the power to vary the tone of any given sequence primarily based on what’s going on on the ground. Clearly, lots of that needed to do with Jimmy Butler, however there’s nonetheless. It seems, and that is. There’s main variations, clearly, nevertheless it feels just like the Cavs making an attempt to separate themselves from the LeBron James period and the Miami Warmth making an attempt to separate themselves from. From what Jimmy Butler was capable of accomplish in that a part of his profession. Proper. And clearly there’s completely different ranges to it, nevertheless it feels eerily related once you speak about how they’re looking for a option to shut out these video games, as you talked about. And so they’re additionally making an attempt to determine how they’ll simply create an atmosphere and a tradition that’s primarily based on successful with out one in every of their most winningest gamers on the ground always. And as I used to be mentioning with the conditioning and as I used to be mentioning with simply what number of minutes these guys needed to play tonight, it was additionally an additional time sport. So bam. Adebayo performed 44 minutes, Andrew Wiggins performed 43 minutes, Tyler Herro performed 44 minutes. And then you definitely go to their bench, and Haywood Highsmith performed 40 minutes and Davion Mitchell performed 40 minutes. And I do know we’ve talked concerning the bench items for each groups, however we additionally talked about on a special podcast about Davion Mitchell being an irritant, being a man that may sort of get into the hearth of what the Miami Warmth tradition is within the playoffs and catch hearth when he must. He had again to again triples that have been large. He was 4 of 9 from deep for 16 factors. And I believe it’s vital to notice that it was extra so his defensive effort that saved him on the ground moderately than the shot making and the way that might be checked out for a possibility for Eric Sposia to make use of that towards the Cavs as the purpose of assault defender towards one in every of their two guards in Darius and Donovan. However I believe we are able to all agree that Darius and Donovan will not be Trae Younger and are going to have the ability to do various things higher than what Trae was capable of do. Particularly in an evening the place you didn’t get it going till as Chris talked about in a later podcast, they saved it shut and Trae Younger did what Trae Younger does.

Chris Fedor: Yeah, Ethan, I simply assume there are particular groups throughout the NBA that irrespective of the scenario that they’re in, irrespective of the inconsistencies that they’ve proven, irrespective of the document, you simply have a degree of respect for them and for what they’ve completed. And Miami is that sort of workforce. There’s simply extra respect that I had for Miami than a workforce like Atlanta. They’ve Eric Spoelstra, a champion. That man in a seven sport sequence, like, that’s the sort of man that may throw issues at you, that, you recognize, take you out of rhythm, that make you uncomfortable, that that’s the sort of man that might theoretically out coach Kenny Atkinson. We’ll see. We’ll see what occurs. However he might, you recognize, bam. Adebayo is an all star, he’s an Olympian, he’s been in huge moments earlier than and that’s one thing that stood out to me just a little bit simply watching Miami down the stretch of the sport and yeah, they blew an enormous lead and yeah, it was shut within the fourth quarter, most likely nearer than it ought to have been. However like none of their dudes have been afraid. Like, all of them went to the ball late within the sport, all of them wished that second. They didn’t look rattled on the highway. You recognize, that’s the one factor that you would be able to say about Miami and Warmth tradition and all people jokes about Warmth tradition and stuff like that, however they’re going to be robust, they’re going to be effectively ready, they’re going to be bodily, they’re going to be defensive minded they usually’re simply not going to be afraid as a result of they’re constructed that sort of manner. So yeah, they haven’t been good this yr. Their document stinks. There’s a cause why they have been within the play in Event. I’m not making an attempt to persuade anyone that they really have a shot to drag this upset. I’m simply saying, you recognize, there’s a degree of respect and I believe the best way that the Cavs phrase it’s acceptable worry. There’s a degree of that once you play towards a battle examined championship degree group in Miami and I believe that.

Ethan Sands: Might play once more into the hand of the Cavs, proper? As a result of clearly when you get to match up towards Atlanta, you’re like oh buddy, Buddy Caris, George, I’m going to prepare dinner you as a result of you may’t guard me one on one video games that you simply get to see. And clearly I believe we’ve got to say this like of their first taking part in sport, the Atlanta Hawks, Karris and George weren’t good, proper? After which on this second one for a majority of the competition, George and Karras have been carrying the workforce as Trae Younger was struggling and Onyeka Ngu was going nuclear mainly in a sport that’s displaying precisely the place he needs to undertaking himself sooner or later. However then it got here all the way down to the ultimate moments of the sport and I believe all of the Cavs followers have been like that’s the George Niang I do know, that’s the Karis Lavert I do know. And going again to my unique level, I believe the actual fact of the matter is there’s that worry, that acceptable worry of the Miami Warmth and the Cavs will not be going to mess around as a result of they perceive what they’re able to. I believe when you would have had the chance to play Atlanta, they toy round just a little bit. I nonetheless assume they sweep them, however I believe now it’s extra like okay, now we’ve got to lock in. Kenny Atkinson goes to have a special psychological method and this will get into my subsequent query for you Chris, nevertheless it really comes from one in every of our subtexters who’s been asking this query, sort of projecting that the Cavs have been going to get the face to Miami Warmth within the playoffs within the first spherical. Anu from Frisco, he says, hey guys, how a lot zone versus man protection do you count on within the playoffs? What was the p.c zone within the common season versus what you count on within the playoffs as sport slows down within the playoffs. So that you count on kind of zone protection. And I believe that is the proper sequence the place we speak about Kenny Atkinson who makes use of lots of zone however has additionally talked about Eric Spoelstra who’s just like the king of zone utilization on the subject of coaches across the NBA. Chris, I do know you may have extra detailed info on the share of zone’s utilization this yr Let the followers know what you bought.

Chris Fedor: Yeah, simply. We’ll put it this manner, you recognize, all through the course of the common season, the three zone heaviest groups within the NBA have been Cleveland, Philadelphia and Miami. So once you speak about two of these groups matching up in a seven sport sequence and an understanding that, you recognize, there are some deficiencies inside Miami’s protection on the subject of coping with every part that they’re going to must take care of on the subject of the Cavs offense. I imply, even Tyler Herro stated it on the court docket following the sport. It’s a traditionally nice offense and you recognize, there’s a cause why they’re the primary offense within the NBA. They’ve acquired a lot firepower, they’ve acquired a lot depth, they’ve acquired a lot versatility. It’s not as predictable because it’s been previously. There’s so many alternative components to this offense that that makes it arduous to sport plan towards and it makes it arduous to say, okay, we’re going to take this away after which that’s going to close off your water. A workforce takes this away, then the Cavs counter they usually go to one thing else. Proper. They’ve the sorts of choices and the sort of personnel to make the counters that they would wish to make. So I believe the reality is Miami goes to have a tough time coping with the Cavs offense. Each workforce within the NBA has had a tough time coping with the Cavs offense. And there’s simply no indicators that it’s simply going to flatline within the playoffs. There’s simply no indicators that it’s going to crater within the playoffs prefer it has the final two years. So once you don’t have know the matchup benefits that you’d must must take care of the workforce in man to man conditions due to their reducing, as a result of their fixed motion, due to their lob threats, due to all of the various things that we’ve talked about. What do you do? Try to change it up and also you attempt to go to zone. In case you take a look at a number of the matchups between the 2 groups within the common season, each groups went heavy zone. So when you may have two of the zone heaviest groups that consider on this vastly and in addition perceive a few of their very own limitations on protection on the subject of taking part in towards a particular opponent, you may positively count on a wholesome quantity of zone from each Miami and Cleveland. And I believe the factor that turns into fascinating is, you recognize, when you’re a zone workforce, when you use zone on protection, you may have higher information about greatest assault it. So I don’t understand how efficient Miami zone goes to be towards the Cavs as a result of they’ve labored towards their very own zone behind the scenes. They’ve completely different counters that they plan to implement that they’ve been utilizing behind the scenes. And the identical factor on the subject of Miami. Who is aware of assault the zone higher than Miami, the workforce that makes use of it again and again and over. There are some groups, you throw a zone on the market they usually’re like, oh my God, what will we do? It seems to be like a JV workforce making an attempt to play towards the varsity, however I simply don’t assume the Cavs are going to have that feeling and I don’t assume Miami goes to have that feeling. So it’s going to be fascinating to me to see how efficient these methods are going to be. And don’t be shocked, be shocked if the CAVS Go boxing one. They could go boxing one on Tyler Hero. They could, they may go boxing one towards Duncan Robinson if he’s on the market for half-hour. I believe Kenny has proven a willingness and an adaptability to make use of a bunch of various seems to be. And the rationale why they dabbled with these issues all through the course of the common season is in order that after they must go to them within the playoffs, they know what to do, they know method that. They know what every particular person accountability is in these sorts of conditions.

Ethan Sands: Chris, and I’m glad you introduced up the boxing one as a result of it jogged my memory of a scenario and once more, that is going about Kenny Atkinson saying that he’s going to start out each season with a ten man rotation. Proper. And we’ve recognized or we’ve seen. It jogged my memory of Sam Merrill chasing round Duncan Robinson because the one in that boxing one protection. Proper. So it’s not essentially, oh, we’re going to have Isaac Okoro chasing round and positive, it might be, however proper. He might be guarding Tyler Herro in sure lineups. Dean Wade might actually do all of this stuff, however like, it offers alternatives for different guys to get reps in these situations and be like, okay, are you playoff prepared? Are you going to have the identical degree of success? As a result of statistically Sam Merrow was among the finest defenders on the Cavs this season. Proper. However we even have to return and take a look at the play in match stats that we get from NBA.com proper. We talked about it being an additional time sport between Miami and Atlanta on Friday, however these two groups, that they had 106 factors every after 4 quarters.

Chris Fedor: Yep.

Ethan Sands: That’s not going to be sufficient to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. One once you discuss concerning the Miami Warmth, who have been going up towards the Atlanta Hawks, who had a defensive score on this sport of 116. Proper. And once you speak about their general defensive score within the play in match, after they performed these two video games, that they had a defensive score of 121.5. This is without doubt one of the worst defenses this season, and you continue to are going to inform me that you possibly can solely rating 106 factors towards them. That’s telling to me. Certain, Tyler Herro didn’t have his greatest displaying, however I believe it’s telling of what the Cavs are going to attempt to look to use. And the opposite level of the matter is, is that Miami had a 113.2 offensive score over their play in video games and over their final sport, simply, simply tonight towards the Atlanta Hawks, that they had an offensive score of 116. So I believe it’s vital that we proceed to take a look at the statistics, even when it’s a small pattern dimension, as a result of it’ll be vital for Kenny Atkinson and we all know how analytically primarily based he’s and the way he’s going to take these and be like, okay, effectively, I don’t know if I’m going to be fearful. Shore, you made 16 threes tonight, however you have been taking part in towards the Hawks protection, proper?

Chris Fedor: Certain.

Ethan Sands: Dyson Daniels made it a residing hell on Tyler Herro at instances. Davion Mitchell was on the market making an attempt to do the identical factor for Trae Younger. However I believe there’s simply sure balances that you simply really feel. And as you talked about, Chris in a special podcast, I don’t know an space the place the Cavs are outmatched by the Miami heats. And the one factor that involves thoughts is rebounding, they usually’ve put an emphasis on that in follow. So I’m curious to see how they’ll come out with that of their first sport of the playoffs. Yeah.

Chris Fedor: The opposite factor is, Ethan, I believe if the Cavs wish to play huge, I believe they’ll play huge higher than Miami can. Look, Khalil Ware and Bam Adebayo collectively has been efficient for Miami, however Khalil Ware’s. He’s a rookie. He’s not Evan Mobley. When it comes to the trajectory, when it comes to the event, when it comes to the readiness, he’s not Evan Mobley. So that you take a look at stylistically, all proper, if Miami needs to play huge, the Cavs can do this higher. If Miami needs to play small, you recognize, they’ve Evan Mobley anchoring that small ball lineup protection. Miami has Bam anchoring that small ball lineup protection. Like each are fairly good. Choices. So now you speak about, okay, what are the opposite items round them and what are the positive factors of a workforce on the offensive finish of the ground by going to that small ball lineup? And that’s the place DeAndre Hunter comes into play. Stylistically, DeAndre is someone who permits the Cavs to have an immense ceiling on the offensive finish of the ground when going quote, unquote small. And on the similar time, he has been among the finest isolation defenders within the NBA this yr. And on the similar time, he can bounce between the three or the 4. He could be robust and bodily. He can maintain his personal on the perimeter and within the publish. So it’s like, yeah, going away from Jared and Evan is a danger to your protection, nevertheless it’s much less of a danger when that 4 man is DeAndre Hunter, as opposed previously the place that 4 man was George Niang, that 4 man was Marcus Morris senior, you recognize, so if you wish to go small, if Miami decides, hey, like, we don’t have the benefit with Ware and Bam collectively, let’s attempt to go just a little bit smaller. I believe the Cavs can do this higher than Miami too. So I simply don’t know the the locations the place Miami can persistently exploit the Cavs. And that doesn’t imply that the Cavs are going to win each single sport by double digits. It doesn’t work like that within the playoffs, and it doesn’t imply that the Cavs are going to brush. It doesn’t work like that within the playoffs. Typically you may have a foul night time, generally the opposite workforce has an important night time. However from a matchup perspective, there are simply so many alternative issues that you simply take a look at and also you level within the path of the caps. And that’s what occurs once you’re speaking a few 64 and 18 workforce. That’s what occurs once you’re speaking a few extra full, extra constant basketball workforce with higher habits which were constructed all through the course of the common season. So I maintain taking a look at this and you recognize, Ethan, we’ve talked on this podcast, one of many conditions to coping with the Cavs and, you recognize, being aggressive with them, you higher have a excessive octane offense, you higher have a various offense, you higher have the ability to win a 3 level capturing contest. Miami was backside 10 within the NBA throughout the common season in offense. And this simply isn’t a scenario the place the Cavs offense is so flawed that it’s like, okay, however they’re simply going to make it a defensive slugfest that’s labored previously towards The Cavs. However this offense just isn’t final yr’s offense. So it’s like if Miami is extra comfy in a decrease scoring sport, extra of a defensive minded sport, okay, that’s high quality. However the protection that you need to play is towards the perfect offense within the NBA. It’s not towards the Chicago Bulls. It’s not towards the Atlanta Hawks. It’s towards a deep, gifted, numerous Cavs offense. And I simply don’t assume groups are going to persistently win a low scoring sport as a result of I don’t assume the Cavs offense goes to be in too a lot of these low scoring video games the best way that it was previously.

Ethan Sands: And Chris, you talked about the best scoring offense of the Cleveland Cavaliers and having to take care of that because the opposition. I imply, Davion Mitchell had 4 threes tonight. I don’t know when you can rely on him to have that for the Miami Warmth. Proper. I simply checked out his sport log. It seems to be like there’s eight video games this season throughout the common season the place he had three or extra triples. So I believe you need to take this stuff under consideration. Proper. We Talked concerning the 16 three pointers that the Miami Warmth made tonight towards Atlanta. 9 of these got here from Tyler Herro and. And Davion Mitchell. Tyler Herro, we already realize it’s both Bam Adebayo or Tyler Herro is on the high of the Cavs counting report going into this sequence. After which Davion Mitchell, we don’t know what number of minutes he’s going to get as a result of within the video games that the Cavs have performed towards Davion Mitchell this season, he’s gotten performed off the court docket fairly truthfully. So it might be a scenario the place the expertise degree that the Cavs have is simply too overwhelming to have a man like Davion Mitchell on the ground. Certain. If Davion Mitchell comes out and performs the best way that he did tonight for all 4, 5, 6 video games of this sequence. Proper. However that’s tremendous unrealistic and that’s simply me being extraordinarily sincere concerning the scenario. The opposite portion that I wished to say that you simply talked about was going huge, going small, going to Evan Mobley because the soul man. 5, I believe if Eric Spoelscher goes to Bam Advert bio because the lone huge man on the ground. I believe the Cavs are enthusiastic about it as a result of they pull him out to the perimeter and also you give extra space to the, to the guards to work. And now with Evan Mobley with the ability to shoot on the market, he’s extra of a risk. Clearly he nonetheless has to show that within the Playoffs, but additionally on the defensive finish. Evan Mobley throughout the common season, three video games, quarter-hour of matchup knowledge, he held him to 7 of 16 from the sphere, 43.8%, which is respectable as a result of he made just one three pointer and took three.

Chris Fedor: So.

Ethan Sands: So all of those baskets have been coming both on the rim or within the mid vary and also you’re speaking about Evan Mobley with the ability to stifle him in that positioning. I believe that’s extraordinarily vital to notice on the subject of how Evan Mobley is a deterrent within the inside on that finish of the ground, particularly with how Bam has been working within the playoffs and the way he’s been capturing the basketball as effectively. So I believe it’s simply once more, as we’ve been saying about optimistic and benefit Cavs going into the sequence they usually have the issues already in set that they’ll go to. And I additionally assume them having coaches who’ve been taking a look at sport movie, taking a look at matchups all through the complete season on groups just like the Miami Warmth, you get a greater sense of what they should be ready for, what they’re prepared for. However Chris, I do know we’ve got articles popping out on Saturday about what we predict goes to occur on this sequence. Clearly, we’ll most likely wait to drop these till after we discuss to the Cavs on Saturday afternoon, however I wish to give the followers who’re nonetheless listening to this podcast just a little little bit of a preview. I’ve stated this. I’m going to face on this. The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to win the sequence in 5. The place do you see it going?

Chris Fedor: Yeah, I believe Cavs in 5, too. I believe I simply have a wholesome respect for Miami that it’s arduous for me to foretell a sweep. And I believe, you recognize, that’s one thing that’s going to profit the Cavs as effectively, as you talked about, as a result of, you recognize, Miami is the sort of workforce that’s going to have Cleveland’s consideration in a manner that Atlanta wouldn’t. And if you consider the second half of the season and the dearth of focus for the Cavs and the slippage for the Cavs and the entire simply get me to the playoffs kind factor, now they’re right here and now they must crank it again up and it’s arduous to try this. Proper, proper. However when you may have a workforce that you simply’re taking part in towards that has your consideration, these issues come just a little bit extra naturally. They arrive just a little bit simpler. So I simply have extra respect for Miami than to foretell a sweep. I believe the Cavs are clearly the higher workforce within the sequence. I believe they’re the extra full workforce within the sequence. I believe they’ve acquired extra excessive finish expertise than Miami does. And also you have been speaking about Bam, and that is no disrespect to Bam. Bam is basically, actually good and he’s actually vital to the success of Miami at each ends of the ground. However he’s not the stylistic huge man that has given Jared Allen and Evan Mobley issues. There are completely different guys within the NBA which might be problematic for the Cavs on the subject of rebounding, on the subject of punishing them, on the subject of simply being beefy and bodily and transferring them off of their house and making them uncomfortable and all these various things. It’s not Bam. It’s guys like Zubots. It’s guys like, you recognize, Domas Sabonis. It’s guys like Kristaps Porzingis. So this isn’t to say that Bam’s going to have a foul sequence or this isn’t to say that Bam’s not going to have moments all through the sequence the place he assaults Jared Allen or he assaults Evan Mobley or He finishes with 20 factors and 15 rebounds or one thing alongside these traces. However, you recognize, it’s simply not the identical sorts of issues attributable to him as a few of these different guys. However in saying all of that, you recognize, they’ve Tyler Herro, they’ve Bam Adebayo, they’ve Eric Spoelstra, they do have Andrew Wiggins, who can have huge nights, particularly towards a workforce just like the Cavs. So I’ll say that Miami finds a option to get a type of in. In Miami, it could be the fast Turnaround sport, the 1:00 afternoon sport in Miami, or perhaps it’s sport 4. It’s very arduous to shut out a sequence, particularly on the highway. So perhaps Miami finds a manner again towards the wall. All of the stress on the Cavs, you recognize, in entrance of their dwelling followers for perhaps the final time all yr, and Miami finds a option to get, to get sport 4. However I don’t count on it to go any additional than 5. I’d be shocked if it goes six.

Ethan Sands: Yeah, Chris. I’ve the Cavs dropping sport three after they get to Miami, their. Their first sort of change of surroundings and never being with their dwelling followers, after which they lock again in for sport 4. In order that’s most likely the one distinction that I’ve in that. However I additionally. We have been mentioning the matchup between Bam and Evan Mobley, and I wish to finish with this, proper, the statistics on the subject of the matchup knowledge with Evan Mobley, because the offensive participant and Bam Adebayo as a defensive participant. Bam has matched up with Evan for round 11 and a half minutes of matchup knowledge per NBA.com and Evan is 6 of 11 from the sphere, 54.5% from the sphere, and he’s solely taken two threes. So nonetheless with the ability to get into the physique of Bam, I believe that may be a testomony to precisely what you have been speaking about, Chris. It is a matchup the place Evan Mobley appears like he can go into the chest. He’s not that a lot smaller than Bam Adebayo on the subject of energy clever. He appears like he can assault the basket and be dominant in that style. However I additionally assume simply the specter of him pulling Bam out of the paint, particularly if he’s the lone huge man, is one thing that Kenny Atkinson and the Cavs will look to use if Air Publicity finally ends up deciding to go along with that. As a result of once more, as we have been saying, the Cavs can go to 2 bigs higher than the Miami Warmth can. So I believe that covers all of our bases. Cavs in 5 and I believe it’s going to be lots of enjoyable to only be in Rocket area on Sunday for the primary playoff sport. All of the stuff that’s going to go on throughout the sport, across the sport. The town has already began placing up all the issues round for them to rejoice, simply the playoffs being on the town, and I believe that’s the largest portion of it. Once more, the storytelling side, the folks particular person side. You get to see how excited the individuals who have lived right here their entire lives get to be a few workforce that has been simply pretty much as good, if not higher in some areas because the final time the Cavs received a championship. However with all that being stated, that’ll wrap up immediately’s episode of the Wine and Gold Discuss podcast. However bear in mind to change into a Cavs insider and work together with Chris, me and Jimmy by subscribing to Subtext. If you wish to be like anew and get your questions answered on the podcast and get a shout out as effectively, that is the place you may have your voice heard, your questions answered by subscribing to Subtext. So join a 14 day free trial or go to cleveland.comcavs and click on on the blue bar on the high of the web page. In case you don’t prefer it, that’s high quality. All you need to do is textual content the phrase cease. It’s straightforward, however we are able to inform you that the individuals who join stick round as a result of that is one of the simplest ways to get insider protection on the Cavs from me, Chris and Jimmy. This isn’t simply our podcast. It’s your podcast. And the one option to have your voice heard is thru some textual content. Y’all secure. We out.

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