Chapter 284: I Am the Impossible.
Not long after sweeping the Hawks, the Cavaliers prepared to face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat had also swept their opponent, the Nets, in the second round.
The Nets, plagued by Deron Williams' injuries, had seen their competitiveness decline over the years. However, even a weakened Nets team was still stronger than the Hawks.
Yet despite their playoff experience, the Nets couldn't win a single game against the Heat.
The Heat's average margin of victory across the first two rounds was an astonishing 15+ points per game, a clear sign that they were playing at a higher level than any other team.
Their success wasn't just about roster fit. It was fueled by an intense hunger for a championship.
With Goran Dragić and Nikola Vučević both in contract years, this season represented their best chance to win a title. And for this group, there wouldn't be a better opportunity.
The win-or-bust mentality they displayed was reminiscent of the 2011 Mavericks, who overcame the odds to win a championship.
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Before the Conference Finals tipped off, the NBA announced the All-NBA Teams.
Han Sen was named to both the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team, completing a clean sweep of major individual honors for the season—MVP, DPOY, and now First-Team selections.
With the awards announced, the league ramped up promotion for the two highly anticipated matchups in the Conference Finals: