5 first round NBA playoff matchups we're dying to see

5 first round NBA playoff matchups we’re dying to see

By Noah Torr | Mar 20, 2017

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the second quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 6, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) looks to pass as Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) defends during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Heat won 106-98. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Cavs – Heat

These teams will always play their heart out against one another. There has been a weird dynamic between the Cavaliers and the Heat since LeBron left the Cavaliers to win a championship with the Heat and Dwyane Wade. But the past is the past and it’s time to look forward to this potential playoff matchup. They have played each other three times and will play once more on April 10. That will be the game to watch for because that will be right before playoff time and Kevin Love will be back from injury.

Now let me explain why this is a marquee matchup.

Every time the Cavaliers have played the Heat this season, there has been an asterisk by the game. The December game, you can argue that the Heat were still trying to figure things out. In both of the 2017 games, you can argue that Kevin Love was injured so those games don’t count. These teams have not been able to duke it out with each other when their at their best.

Look at the previous games that they have played against one another. They’re all close, except for the December game but that was before the massive run that the Heat went on. Since the All-Star break, the Heat have been on a run that includes wins against the Rockets, Warriors, and some of the other top teams in the league.

Normally a No. 1 seed versus a potential No. 1 seed is a fodder for a sweep. With the way the Heat are playing and the weird history between these two teams, fans are in for a sweet treat.

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