What the Miami Heat proved to the Cavaliers and Eastern Conference by Kristopher Keaton

The Miami Heat recently dismantled the Cleveland Cavaliers, 98-79, proving they can become a problem come playoff time.

On Tuesday, the Miami Heat came out strong against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that is expected to make it to this year’s Finals.

Speaking of the playoffs (the first round in particular), who would the Heat likely match up against? Currently, the Boston Celtics (51-23) look like a lock to stay as the second seed in the Eastern Conference standings, with eight games remaining on their schedule. And the Cavaliers (44-30) currently sit third, with eight games to go as well.

The Heat have a favorable schedule down the stretch

The Heat currently sit seventh in the East, with seven games remaining. Five of the Heat’s next seven games are against below .500 teams (Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets). The Heat are only a game back of the Washington Wizards (41-33), and four games back of the Indiana Pacers (41-31) for the fifth spot, with the Pacers having seven games left in the regular season.

Top seed’s have injury issues and concerns

The Heat look destined for a one-way ticket to play the Cavaliers or the Celtics in the first round.

Both matchups look favorable for the Heat. How so? The Celtics are dealing with key injuries to their star and core rotational players; Kyrie Irving (not expected back to action for at least 3-6 weeks), Marcus Smart (the so-called soul of the team) and Daniel Theis (an invaluable stretch big).

A host of banged up players such as Marcus Morris, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford have been in and out of the lineup as of late too.

Important to note: The Heat over the last 16 games have gone 10-6 without key players (Hassan Whiteside, Dwayne Wade, and Bam Adebayo) for most of that stretch. Whiteside is expected to return Thursday, versus the Bulls however (according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel).

And as far as Cleveland, they’ve had issues all season with roster turnover, internal drama, and injuries, especially to their second-leading scorer and LeBron James’ “Mr. Everything,” forward Kevin Love, who recently suffered a concussion and a chipped front tooth playing against the Heat.

The Heat aren’t intimidated by James and the Cavaliers

The Heat have a psychological effect on James. James, since leaving the Heat in the summer of 2014, hasn’t won at AmericanAirlines Arena (0-7, and 4-13 all-time as a visitor).

And James’ kryptonite (outside of Wade) could very well be forward James Johnson, who held James to 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting. His tenacious defense, physical disposition and tough-minded attitude gave James trouble most of the night, a trend that could continue in the playoffs if both teams were to meet.

Why the Miami Heat are a first-round playoff threat to top-seeded teams

Strength in numbers; the Heat have eight players averaging double digits. The Heat don’t have a superstar, yes, but that might play to their advantage come playoff time because the Heat have several x-factors:

The Kelly Olynyk’s, Wayne Ellington’s, Goran Dragic’s, Wade’s, Whiteside’s, Josh Richardson’s, Tyler Johnson’s, Justise Winslow’s and Johnson’s of the world pose a threat on a multitude of levels.

The Heat have the kind of swarming defense that you don’t want to see in the playoffs, let alone the first round, especially if you’ve been banged up health-wise. The Heat also have the kind of game that travels; ball movement, team defense, inside game with Whiteside, multiple players that can bring the ball up and initiate the offense, and stretch forwards that can help open up lanes for the slashers/attackers to finish in the paint and at the rim.

And last but not least, an experienced head coach in Erik Spoelstra, who is playoff and battled tested.

It will be very interesting to see how all this unfolds in the upcoming weeks. One thing that seems evident is that the Heat are ascending at the right time and headed on a one-way collision course with the Cavaliers or the Celtics.