Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat game in Brazil was ‘bad idea’

After LeBron James decided to leave the Miami Heat in free agency and sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the league had the wonderful idea to pair the two in a preseason tilt in Brazil.

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The NBA would go on to suggest it was simply an attempt at expanding their global influence as they’ve done with games in China and Berlin during the preseason. The league also hinted the tilt would allow Cavs center Anderson Varejao to play a game in his native country.

There is of course nothing wrong with either of those sentiments though it seemed rather obvious the NBA was doing what they could to create a marketing gimmick by pitting LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers against his old Miami Heat.

Maybe it was a good idea on the surface though Sam Amico of Fox Sports suggests the contest between the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers was a ‘bad idea’.

"This game was a bad idea by the NBA and has been an awkward experience for James and his former teammates with the Heat. Nothing wrong with a preseason game in Brazil — but in this instance, the league chose marketing and desperately trying to create some early buzz over being sensible (and its own players’ feelings)."

In addition to the strange experience for all involved there’s the need to play some of the star talent despite potentially not doing so in a normal circumstance. Maybe LeBron James doesn’t play much if the game was against the Milwaukee Bucks but being he’s the focal point of the game head coach David Blatt will likely be forced to give him more action than he’d prefer.

Still, the tilt is one of (if not the most) anticipated preseason game one could ever recall, so the NBA did something right even if it’s suggested to be a ‘bad idea’.

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