5. Take Advantage of LeBron’s One Weakness
ESPN’s Jalen Rose said it best:
“So besides the obvious Golden State and the Spurs, the individual intriguing series that I’m looking forward to will be that one, because the dynamic that’s going to have to play out is something we as fans really wanted to see every time the Cavs went back to Miami, and in particular the last time when they got blown out and LeBron was fraternizing with D‑Wade during the game, and we know from talking to Coach Blatt and talking to the general manager, he’s basically played great basketball since. So the great thing that’s going to have to happen for the Cavs to advance is there’s going to have to be a hatred, there’s going to have to be a dislike that LeBron is going to need to carry versus that former jersey that he hasn’t and against his brother Dwyane Wade and against his team that he won two championships with, and vice versa. I’m really fascinated to see how that’s going to play out because Wade, if they were losing by 25, if he was down there fraternizing with LeBron, I don’t know who would have go to him first between Pat (Riley) or Spo (Spoelstra).”
Essentially, the Heat cannot afford to treat James like a friend or former teammate. They have to get mean and nasty and play him harder than he’s used to being played. It seems like the former MVP has a soft spot for Wade and his former team, as showcased by the losses he takes every time he visits Miami. The Heat will have to exploit that as a weakness and do everything they can as a team to stop him from getting into a rhythm.
It’s unlikely you will catch the look of determined hatred in James’ eyes at any point against Miami. You know the look; the one he had in Boston in Game 6 of that 2012 series before he went on to dominate and lead the Heat to an NBA championship. In the East, the path to the finals goes through James. That’s simply the way its been for years now and Miami must keep that in mind if they do indeed get the chance to face off against him and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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