With and 6:46 left in the 1st quarter, the red-hot, extremely confident Miami Heat had raced out to a15-6 lead. The home crowd was in a frenzy. The big, bad Cleveland Cavaliers were on the ropes early in Miami.

The Cavs responded exactly like you would expect a #1 seed with serious title aspirations that had beaten their current opponent 5 times in a row to respond.

They took Miami’s best shot, they got up, they shook it off, and they went on a 33-5 run of beautiful basketball that not only out this game- and this series- away. It may have put an end to any thought that Pat Riley, Nick Arison and Erik Spoelstr may have had about the future of this Miami Heat roster.

YES, IT WAS THAT BAD.

The Cavs were amazingly consistent, and consistently amazing. They dominated points in the paint, rebounds, fast-break points, points off turnovers, free throw attempts, you name it. This was a demolition job.

When it was over, (mercifully) the Cavs had handed the Heat their worst playoff loss in franchise history, 124-87, and, (ya ready for it?) it wasn’t THAT CLOSE.

Bam Adebayo had 22 points for Miam, while Tyler Herro was completely contained by the Cavs’ consistent suffocation of a defense.

Jarrett Allen (22 points) led 7 Cavs scoring in double-figures.

Game 4 is looking like a mere formality at this point. The Heat are left questioning everything about themselves in this sport, while the Cavs are just cranking up their engines to make a run at what would be their 2nd championship in franchise history. (2016)

All that’s left for Miami are guts, pride, and the Heat culture that propelled them to go 10-2 after their devastating 10-game losing streak that ended last month, including 2 play-in wins that made them the 1st 10-seed to make the NBA Playoffs.

This Heat team has 100% earned your love, your respect, even your admiration. What this group has fought through and accomplished has given us all something very special, with Riley, Spo, Tyler, Bam and so many more of these warriors giving us the very best of themselves- and doing some of their very best work- to do it.

Will it all come to an end in Game 4? I guess we’ll have to see which version of this Heat team shows up for the game.

***** ‘LIVE’ Instant Reaction from Jim “GRIES” Grieshaber

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Game 4 is Monday night on Pat Riley Court in Miami.

Your HEAT POSTCAST- hosted by Jim “GRIES” Grieshaber- comes your way right after the game ‘LIVE’

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