The Land Before Time: Our Pregame Thoughts ahead of Cavs-Heat: Game 3

The Land Before Time: Cavs Pre-Game Thoughts

April 26, 2025 vs Miami (Game 3)

Have you ever investigated what opposing teams’ fans/media are saying about matchups against the Cavs? We tend to live in this bubble where we look at things from a Cleveland-focused perspective. It makes sense, but it limits what we see from the other side. What are they looking at in the box score? What adjustments are they advocating to improve on? In a seven-game series, these topics are even more fascinating because the same two teams play many times in a row. For us Cavs fans, playing Miami is even more fascinating. Eric Spoelstra and the Heat are experts at adjusting. This makes the Heat, even as an 8 seed, an always dangerous opponent.

I was listening to The Block, The Shot, The Stop podcast following Game 2 where they did a great job calling out the few adjustments that Miami made after Game 1. Davion Mitchell slid into the starting lineup to replace Alec Burks. Mitchell proceeded to put up 18 points and 6 assists in Game 2. Nikola Jovic also saw an increase in action, going from 1 minute played in Game 1 to 25 in Game 2. He turned in a +2 performance off the bench with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Finally, Andrew Wiggins saw a decrease in action, not playing the entire fourth quarter in Game 2. What will we see between Game 2 and Game 3?

If you’re asking the people at All U Can Heat, the biggest adjustments might be in the Heat players’ reactions to off-the-court actions. One of their big articles prior to today’s game theorizes that Darius Garland’s comments about targeting Tyler Herro on defense, along with the slight of Evan Mobley winning the Defensive Player of the Year over Bam Adebayo, might propel the Heat to a victory. I suppose if Bam Adebayo had been a legit candidate for DPOY I might buy the second part a bit more. As for Herro, DG isn’t wrong… He just said the quiet part out loud. The ball is in Herro’s court now to show if his issue of the defensive end is effort or a genuine lack of defensive ability…

What concerns me more is what Eric Spoelstra will do. He is smart, crafty, and good at making unexpected adjustments that will make it hard for the Cavs to plan. We shall see. My big prediction for Game 3 is that Donovan Mitchell takes it upon himself to make sure the Cavs succeed in their first playoff game on the road. My guess is that he will score 40 or more points. If that happens, and Evan Mobley puts together four consistent quarters, I think it will be a successful day of work on South Beach for the Cavs.

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