NBA Veteran Worried About Potential Playoff Matchup For Cavs

Chandler Parsons believes the Miami Heat would beat the Cleveland Cavaliers if they matched up in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Dec 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives the ball around Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Sometimes those who have the best perspective of a situation or the ones who have experienced it before. Veteran Chandler Parsons played eight years in the NBA three of which resulted in him reaching the playoffs. He knows a thing or two about postseason matchups and has some not-so-great news for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Right now, several different scenarios could still play out in the Eastern Conference playoff seeding. One potential matchup for the Cavs in round one of the postseason is against the Miami Heat. However, Parsons believes this would be a problem for the Cavs.

“[The Heat are] probably going to get the six-seed and play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, and it's hard not to take the Heat in that series,” said Parsons.

"Tyler Herro is a proven bucket...They're probably going to get the 6-seed and play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, and it's hard not to take the Heat in that series."@ChandlerParsons on Tyler Herro's potential return #Heat pic.twitter.com/HiUX8SpFWc

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 5, 2024

It’s hard to argue with this statement the way each team has been playing over the last few weeks.

Miami is surging at the right time and they seem to always wait and save their best basketball heading into the playoffs. The Cavs on the other hand are searching for consistency with four of their last five losses coming by 10 or more points.

Dec 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives the ball around Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

One of these losses for the Cavs came against the Heat on March 24 where Erik Spoelstra exposed some of Cleveland’s biggest weaknesses. The Heat won that game 84-121 with their largest lead reaching 45 points.

Time will tell who Cleveland is matched up with in round one, but the possibility of playing the Heat does present a significant challenge if this matchup does come to fruition.