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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat: 5 reasons LeBron James will get revenge tonight

By Daniel Tran

Dec 25, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) hugs Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) after their game at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) hugs Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) after their game at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 21, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

4. The Heat Wade-ing in muddy waters.

When LeBron James left Miami this past summer to join the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade was quick to state that he was embracing the challenge of playing without LeBron for the first time in four years. Little did he know how much pressure that would be put on him and his quickly aging body.

Even before LeBron left, Wade was sitting out games to save his body for the playoffs because the team did not want to risk overusing him and breaking down his body before real basketball actually started. With no one but Wade and Bosh to lead the team, Miami head coach Eric Spoelstra needed to utilize him as much as he could to win games.

Eight games into the season, Wade strained his hamstring, forcing him to miss seven games. A month and a half later after he returned, he injured his hamstring again and five games after returning from that injury, he went down with another strained hamstring and has yet to come back. Wade did travel with the team, so there is a chance he might play, but his effectiveness coming off a third strained hamstring will be questionable.

Without Wade in the lineup, the Heat has to rely on their defense to keep them close in games because Wade was usually the offensive catalyst that can create for himself and others. If Wade remains out, there will be no reliable option on the Heat that can provide that skill set.

When Wade is not playing, Miami has a net rating of -5.7 points per 100 possession and a 0-6 record against teams that have a winning percentage of over .500. Even with Wade in the lineup, their offense as of late would not be able to withstand the Cavs newfound defensive presence.

Next: The Heat's offensive offense

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