Hoops Habit
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East’s 4 Biggest Threats To Cleveland Cavaliers

By James D. Tillman III

Mar 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with center Tristan Thompson (13) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with center Tristan Thompson (13) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) talks with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) after the game at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs beat the Heat 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) talks with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) after the game at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs beat the Heat 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Miami Heat

A matchup between the Cavs and Heat would be interesting to say the least. After spending the first seven years of his career in Cleveland, James bolted to South Beach to team up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Although the Heat became the team that everyone loved to hate over the course of a four-year span, it’s difficult to fault James for his decision as the Heat advanced to the Finals four straight seasons, winning it all in 2012 and 2013.

Fast-forwarding to the present, after missing the playoffs by one game a year ago, Miami is firmly entrenched in the playoff race this season and currently holds the No. 4 spot in the conference playoff race. From an offensive standpoint, Miami is not a team that scores a ton of points.

In fact, the Heat average just 98.1 points per game, placing them at No. 26 in this category, and their offensive rating of 104.1 per 100 possessions puts them near the bottom the bottom of the league, per Basketball-Reference.com.

On the flip side of the coin, however, Miami thrives on the defensive end of the floor. For example, their defensive rating of 103.3 is the fifth-best mark in the league. They are also limiting their opponents to 97.2 points per game and are tied for sixth in opponent field-goal percentage at 43.7 percent.

Taking those numbers into consideration, if Miami can force Cleveland to play a half-court style of game, they have a solid chance of preventing King James and Co. from making another Finals appearance.

Regardless of how the series would play out, how exciting would it be to see James playing for the team he wants to lead to a title facing off against the team he helped win two titles a few seasons ago?

In a word: very.

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