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Hardwood Paroxysm Presents: Our Fantasy Playoff Matchups

By HP Basketball Network

Feb 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (88) during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (88) during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 25, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) looks over at the Miami Heat bench during the second half 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) looks over at the Miami Heat bench during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

LeBron’s New Team Against Revitalized Old Team: Cavs vs. Heat

By Jacob Rosen (@WFNYJacob) — Nylon Calculus

How much of an explanation is really necessary for this one? LeBron James, the 30-year-old likely to be one of the few greatest players in the history of game, has played for two NBA franchises in his career. We all know that. There also is a fairly decent shot they meet in the first round of the playoffs in his first year back in Ohio.

The Cavs are a different team than the one that started 19-20. Since then, they’ve won 18 of 22. Overall, they’re now 33-12 when Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and James all play together. That’d be a 60-win pace, assuming perfect health. Perfect health never usually happens though, and one can expect a few more games off from the Big Three by the end of the season. A No. 2 seed is in reach, but the three-spot is more likely if more rest is in the picture..

And this isn’t what we expected the Miami Heat to look like after LeBron left town. The expectation was a fringe playoff team led by Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and who knew what else. They signed Luol Deng. The young center Hassan Whiteside emerged as a star. They traded for Goran Dragic. And then Bosh went down with his scary blood clot situation. All things considered, they’re looking pretty good in the sadsack East at 25-33 and have a couple of tough close losses of late. They’re a highly probable fit for the No. 7 spot.

As odd as it seems for how good the Cavs and Heat both were in the mid-2000s, Wade and James have never played against each other in the playoffs. The storylines would be perfect for this year’s showdown, the two franchises battling for respect in very different circumstances than the past. Without Bosh, it’s uncertain how scary this Miami team might be to any team. But the hungry crowds in both towns would ensure as feisty a non-4 vs. 5 matchup as possible in the East.

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