The importance of the Cleveland game

[Real Deal]

Yesterday, I was pissed off to see that Flash didn't think the game was really that important for Cleveland fans.

 

Now I'm ready to explain why.

 

While I figured they would lose the game, the Cavaliers decided they were going to bring it last night, and they did it with physical play, and a few new (and motivated) players. Cleveland's Finest hit the nail on the head with his first post in that game topic.

 

However, it wasn't really about how important it was for Cleveland...but more about how it seemed far, far less important to Miami...as if, the game was already in the books, and it was going to be a 50-point blowout.

 

Today is a new day, and here's what I'm seeing...

 

TEAM	W	L	PCT
1. Chicago	53	20	0.726
2. Boston	51	22	0.699
3. Miami	51	23	0.689

Also, the Heat have a pretty damn good chance of going 7-1 to end the season.

 

@ Washington

@ Minnesota

@ New Jersey

vs. Milwaukee

vs. Charlotte

vs. Boston

@ Atlanta

@ Toronto

 

Looking at the Bulls' schedule, they have a similar road, Boston and Orlando being their two tough opponents to end the year, and with Miami being three losses back AND not having the tie-breaker against the Bulls, just how important did this Cleveland loss become overnight, and how big will it be in the middle of April?

 

LeBron made a comment after the game, saying that he basically walked into the game as he did on December 2nd, wanting to win, and that both were as important as the other. However, he added that it was a step backwards, at this point of the season, and he's exactly right.

 

My quote from the topic...

 

And, on top of that, a Cleveland win means the Heat lose a game and fall back another loss in the standings, behind the Celtics and three losses behind the Bulls.

 

Miami is good, but I'm pretty sure they want HCA over as many teams as they can.

 

Would you be pissed if Spo rested James, Wade and Bosh 30 minutes tomorrow night...in a loss? Suddenly, you'd see how important the game is for you, and why the Cavs want this more than they wanted the first one.

If the Heat end up a third seed, behind Chicago and Boston (or second, behind Chicago), by just one game in the standings, and they go on to face one of them in the second round, go seven games and lose the GM7 road game...guess who will be smiling the most? The Cleveland fans, because they had absolutely nothing else to play for (no playoffs) but their pride, and the eventual satisfaction of seeing this team lose in the second round, much like their own team did last season, to probably the same exact team as well (Boston).

 

Was the game big for Cleveland? Sure, in their eyes, yet it could be much more important for the Heat by the time the playoffs roll around.

[Cleveland's Finest]

At the same time, though, Miami can avoid the Knicks in the first round. And as we saw last year, Boston beat Cleveland without homecourt. Nonetheless there are many games left, so we'll see how it all plays out and who faces who.

[Real Deal]

At the same time, though, Miami can avoid the Knicks in the first round.

The way the Knicks have been playing, I'm sure the Heat would welcome that first round match-up. Three's Company would average 150 a game by themselves.

 

I think the Heat would value having HCA over Boston more than avoiding that MIA/NY first round.

[SRV]

I don't mind the seeding too much...getting the top seed is just bragging rights. We still have to go out and play....at the end of the day we haven't beat Chicago or Boston on either court and that will most likely be our toughest challenge in the East playoffs assuming we don't choke.

Edited March 30, 2011 by SRV

[Real Deal]

I don't mind the seeding too much...getting the top seed is just bragging rights. We still have to go out and play....at the end of the day we haven't beat Chicago or Boston on either court and that will most likely be our toughest challenge in the East playoffs assuming we don't choke.

So you wouldn't be more comfortable having a Game 7 in Miami, against the Celtics or Bulls, versus having it on the road?

 

From a personal experience with the Lakers, I'm thankful for HCA. The last three playoff series we didn't have it, we lost (2008 Finals vs. Boston, 2006 and 2007 vs. Phoenix).

[SRV]

I don't think it matters much. Our home court hasn't been a massive advantage for us...the Bulls has. So in a way, I would rather have us on a home court, but it really comes down to how we play, not our crowd.

[Flash]

While I want the second seed, I don't think it really impacts us that much. We almost beat Chicago over there without LBJ and without Bosh in the second half. Wade missed a game winner. Then it took a complete meltdown for us to lose to them the following time as well. I think we can take them in a 7 game series with or without home court.

[The Truth]

even with that loss to Cleveland, we still have an easy schedule the rest of the way. I like our chances of surpassing Boston for the second seed before the season ends. having home court advantage against them would be huge.

 

The way the Knicks have been playing, I'm sure the Heat would welcome that first round match-up. Three's Company would average 150 a game by themselves.

I can never tell if you're serious with these predictions lol.

[Nitro]

It was as important as the other 81 games on the schedule, excluding those against Boston/Chicago/Orlando/LA/SA/Dallas (teams they could face in the post-season where homecourt would matter).

Edited March 31, 2011 by Nitro

[Real Deal]

It was as important as the other 81 games on the schedule, excluding those against Boston/Chicago/Orlando/LA/SA/Dallas (teams they could face in the post-season where homecourt would matter).

After the Heat beat the Lakers on Christmas Day, they went off and won another 7-8 consecutive games.

 

The Heat ended a five-game losing streak in March, when they beat the Lakers...and since that win, they have gone 8-2.

 

It's one of the teams you mentioned, but you mentioned the Lakers because of the potential Finals match-up, nothing more. The truth is, games can be more important than others depending on who it is they win against, and when they fall on the schedule.

 

The Cleveland loss could end up hurting the Heat's confidence. They barely beat Washington last night, despite the Wizards not having Wall for three quarters, and missing Howard, Young, and Shard...basically, a huge chunk of the core, minus McGee and a pathetic Blatche.

 

Plus, with it falling late in the season (when Miami has supposedly clicked, developed more chemistry and are making up for the games they lost in November), it is much more important than that loss against the Jazz near the beginning of the season.

[Nitro]

After the Heat beat the Lakers on Christmas Day, they went off and won another 7-8 consecutive games.

 

The Heat ended a five-game losing streak in March, when they beat the Lakers...and since that win, they have gone 8-2.

 

It's one of the teams you mentioned, but you mentioned the Lakers because of the potential Finals match-up, nothing more. The truth is, games can be more important than others depending on who it is they win against, and when they fall on the schedule.

 

The Cleveland loss could end up hurting the Heat's confidence. They barely beat Washington last night, despite the Wizards not having Wall for three quarters, and missing Howard, Young, and Shard...basically, a huge chunk of the core, minus McGee and a pathetic Blatche.

 

Plus, with it falling late in the season (when Miami has supposedly clicked, developed more chemistry and are making up for the games they lost in November), it is much more important than that loss against the Jazz near the beginning of the season.

 

I hear what you are saying, but in the grand scheme of things a loss on the road against the Cavs means just as much as any game not against those teams I mentioned. The Heat have destroyed the crappy teams all year, so I don't think a loss against the Cavs will shake their confidence at all, especially since they won the first 3 matchups. Now, losses against those contending teams do hurt them a lot more, both in terms of getting HCA and proving they can win a series against them when they matchup come playoff time. But the Cavs? Doesn't mean much.

[Real Deal]

I hear what you are saying, but in the grand scheme of things a loss on the road against the Cavs means just as much as any game not against those teams I mentioned. The Heat have destroyed the crappy teams all year, so I don't think a loss against the Cavs will shake their confidence at all, especially since they won the first 3 matchups. Now, losses against those contending teams do hurt them a lot more, both in terms of getting HCA and proving they can win a series against them when they matchup come playoff time. But the Cavs? Doesn't mean much.

So, I'll provide an example...

 

The Pacers and Bobcats are in a race for the last seed in the East. I don't know their schedules, but let's say Charlotte plays a game against the Cavaliers to end the season. How important does that final game become, compared to when they played them back in November or December? What if Charlotte is one loss behind Indiana?

 

Miami's games have become much more important in March, and will be even more important in April, if they want to surpass the Celtics and have a chance at snagging that #1, PLUS getting HCA over as many West teams as they can.

 

Given that the game hurts them in the standings around the time they needed a win the most, plus the fact that it was against the worst team in the NBA, I see more damage coming from this game than I do against any non-contender. Of course, a game against Boston or Chicago would be the most important, given their positions in the standings AND being that it's near the end of the regular season, but this loss was pretty damn important as well, since it should've been a very easy win for them. That's all I'm saying.

[Flash]

We "barely" beat Washington last night?

[Real Deal]

We "barely" beat Washington last night?

It was 88-81 after the third. I watched the game. Washington basically crashed without Wall, had to rely on Crawford getting everything on his own, and the rest of the team was worthless.

 

The Wizards were up 37-36 when Wall was ejected. The game was a blowout in the fourth, but I'm pretty sure the Heat know that it had the potential for a nail-biter before the ejection, and they were having trouble building on their lead up until that final quarter. I'm pretty sure Washington won the third, anyway.

[Flash]

I guess, but a 16 point win doesn't classify as "barely" beating a team if you ask me, but that doesn't really matter.

 

I wouldn't blow the loss to the Cavs out of proportion either. Just 1 loss that won't make or break the season IMO.

[Nitro]

The Pacers and Bobcats are in a race for the last seed in the East. I don't know their schedules, but let's say Charlotte plays a game against the Cavaliers to end the season. How important does that final game become, compared to when they played them back in November or December? What if Charlotte is one loss behind Indiana?

 

The two games make an equal impact to the standings when the seasons ends. They'll be under more pressure in that final game because they realize what's at stake, but in actuality it comes with the same importance that the game back in December had.

[Real Deal]

The two games make an equal impact to the standings when the seasons ends. They'll be under more pressure in that final game because they realize what's at stake, but in actuality it comes with the same importance that the game back in December had.

Stop playing with my head, dude. <_>

 

Haha, I know that each regular season game basically has the same amount of importance, if you don't consider HCA over playoff teams. All I'm saying is, when you lose late in the season, and it's to a team you're supposed to beat, that's the game that you'll remember. LeBron isn't going to go back and think of that loss to the Pacers. The entire Heat team should be over that.

 

Right now...today...they are wishing they had won that Cleveland game, especially after Boston just beat the Spurs last night, and Chicago doesn't plan on slowing down.

 

I can't recall all of the Lakers losses from November or December, but ask me in two weeks which ones we should've won (if we lose a game or two this month), and I'll be telling you the most current ones, because we're on a 16-1 rampage out of the All-Star break, and if we lose any "bunnies" from here on out (say, versus Kings) it's going to hurt far much more than our loss against Cleveland right before the break.

[Nitro]

Stop playing with my head, dude. <_<

 

Haha, I know that each regular season game basically has the same amount of importance, if you don't consider HCA over playoff teams. All I'm saying is, when you lose late in the season, and it's to a team you're supposed to beat, that's the game that you'll remember. LeBron isn't going to go back and think of that loss to the Pacers. The entire Heat team should be over that.

 

Right now...today...they are wishing they had won that Cleveland game, especially after Boston just beat the Spurs last night, and Chicago doesn't plan on slowing down.

 

I can't recall all of the Lakers losses from November or December, but ask me in two weeks which ones we should've won (if we lose a game or two this month), and I'll be telling you the most current ones, because we're on a 16-1 rampage out of the All-Star break, and if we lose any "bunnies" from here on out (say, versus Kings) it's going to hurt far much more than our loss against Cleveland right before the break.

 

As I've said before, the Heat have crushed the lower-level teams all season long, and beat the Cavs the first 3 meetings...that loss won't shake their confidence or destroy their psyche for the playoffs. The Heat have an easy schedule remaining, and one final chance to beat the Celtics and move past them in the standings (they are currently tied or like .5 game behind for that #2 seed). The Heat have a few players with championship experience, and a few others who have made deep runs in the post-season, so I really don't think they will remember that Cavs game when the playoffs start (their close losses against the Bulls and the huge leads they blew against the Jazz and Magic will haunt them a lot moreso).