5 reasons Cavaliers will sweep their way to NBA Finals

5. Health vs. injury

Unlike the Cavaliers, who are fully healthy this postseason, the Heat and Raptors have both lost their starting centers.

Once Hassan Whiteside went down clutching his knee in Game 3, it looked like the Raptors, who had already been riding the presence of center Jonas Valanciunas enough, had gained a massive advantage. Besides Valanciunas having no terrifying shot blocker to worry about when he receives the ball in the post, both Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan would have more opportunities to drive to the basket without the fear of getting their shot sent into the stands by Whiteside’s endless arms.

Then Valanciunas went down soon after with a sprained right ankle, later being confirmed as severe enough for him to miss the rest of the second round.

While there’s no knowing whether or not Whiteside or Valanciunas will miss any of the Conference Finals (Whiteside looks the most likely to return as he’s listed as questionable), their potential absence (or at least returning slightly below 100 percent) is still another way in which the Eastern playoffs are helping the Cavaliers’ run to the Finals.

Miami and Toronto will be forced to go small more often if their starting centers are limited, which only helps the likes of Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson control the boards even more than they are already. And for a weak defender like Love, the possibility of not needing to guard Valanciunas in the post is a major bonus for the Cavaliers, one that allows their defensive focus to ruin the play of Lowry (33.1 percent shooting in the playoffs) and DeRozan (33 percent) even further.

The story is similar with Whiteside, as his aerial presence and superior size and strength would cause immediate problems for Love. Although, if his minutes are reduced at all or he misses any games, Love will have an easier time working in the post and, yet again, Cleveland get an advantage on the glass. And if that wasn’t enough, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving will thrive while penetrating the lane when Whiteside isn’t on the floor.

Furthermore, even if the Heat and Raptor centers do return, the Cavs still have one massive difference and advantage in comparison to last year: everyone is healthy.

Next: 4. Ball movement and scorching hot shooting