In basketball, there are beatdowns and blowouts. But, what the Cleveland Cavaliers did to the Miami Heat in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first round matchup was an obliteration of the highest order. 

The game and the series were over as the Cavs poured on the points well before Heat fans were settled into their seats. Cleveland knocked down six 3-pointers in the first quarter, which alone was more than what Miami finished with in the opening quarter (17). It was a brutal sight, one the Heat fans could not bear to see. The fans trickled out as the Cavs ran the score; they knew that this time, there was no miracle comeback to be had. 

Major props should be given to Cleveland, who are clearly pulling out all the stops to make a long postseason run. The Cavs have gone all-in on a core of Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland. They’ve proven it works and have proceeded to build a roster in Cleveland maximizing their strengths and plugging out the holes opponents may exploit. 

This season, we’ve seen their efforts bearing fruit, as the Cavs had the best offense in both the regular season and the postseason (so far). That Cleveland has done so and earned the best record in the Eastern Conference despite their core missing parts of the regular season makes this run all the more remarkable. The likes of Ty Jerome and Caris LeVert stepped up and held the fort, so it’s no surprise that they did so again in this series. 

Now, the Cavs can rest and recover while waiting for the winner of the series between the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks. Cleveland blowing out Miami early also allowed them to play their starters no more than 25 minutes, so that’s certainly a plus. Things will only get harder from here, though, as the Pacers, Bucks, New York Knicks, and the Boston Celtics are tougher and well-built for the moment compared to the Heat, who sorely missed Jimmy Butler in this series (but we’re sure he didn’t miss them). 

The Cleveland Cavaliers sent a message to the rest of the league with how they quickly dismantled the Miami Heat. Detractors will point out how the Heat were essentially the 10th seed and were reeling from the effects of the Jimmy Butler saga, but games are nonetheless won when they are played. 

Given how the Cavs played in those four games, it’s clear they maximized the land of opportunity that is the postseason. While they have a few days to wait for what comes next, best believe they’ll put their heads down and prepare for whatever comes next.