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Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers prediction: Who will win NBA playoff series
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- Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers prediction: Who will win NBA playoff series
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers' first roadblock to a deeper playoff run in coach Kenny Atkinson's first year at the helm is the Miami Heat .
The Heat outlasted the Atlanta Hawks in overtime to secure the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed via the NBA's Play-In Tournament. Now they will collide with the top-seeded Cavs . Cleveland won the regular-season series 2-1, and it was even Miami who the Cavs beat to secure their ticket to the playoffs.
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Game 1 is set for 7 p.m. Sunday, April 20, at Rocket Arena.
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Here's how Beacon Journal sports writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich think the series will unfold :
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Lewis:The Cavaliers are well rested, and they've been waiting for this day for quite some time. The only team in the East on Cleveland's level is the Boston Celtics , and while Miami can be a tough matchup, the Heat don't have the firepower to keep up. The Cavs need to show they can handle the playoff physicality while maintaining their scoring power. Cavaliers win series 4-1
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Ulrich:The Cavs can't coast and expect to dominate the Heat. They will receive a fight from a Miami team led by one of the NBA's best coaches, Erik Spoelstra. Miami is known as a tough place for visiting teams to succeed, and the Heat's zone defense can serve as an equalizer. Those factors make a sweep difficult to envision. But consider this prediction a vote of confidence in the Cavs being mature enough to resist taking anything for granted. The Cavs claim they're hungry. It's time to show it. Cavaliers win series 4-1
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat prediction for NBA playoff series
