CLEVELAND, Ohio — In the final 0.4 seconds of an electrifying contest between the Cavs and Miami Heat, a defensive breakdown led to a stunning defeat that had both fans and analysts bewildered.
The latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast dives deep into this pivotal moment, unpacking a series of questionable decisions that contributed to the Cavs’ 140-138 loss.
Host Ethan Sands wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room.
“The last play of the game where the Miami Heat simply threw a lob to Andrew Wiggins and the paint was wide open. Why is Sam Merrill in the game? Why is Donovan Mitchell in the game?” Sands questioned. “The Miami Heat had to take a timeout to set their play up, right? So you have the opportunity to sub in Lonzo Ball, Jarrett Allen, you could have put Thomas Bryant in.”
Cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor shared the team’s official explanation: “I’ll just give you their explanation of the why. Not to say that I agree with it, but their explanation on the why was there was 0.4 seconds remaining. They thought Miami was going to use all of its size around the rim because they only have one option. So the Cavs use their size around the rim as opposed to on the guy who was inbounding the ball.”
This reasoning falls apart under scrutiny, especially considering how the play unfolded. A definite miscommunication occurred between De’Andre Hunter and Sam Merrill, leaving Andrew Wiggins open for the game-winning lob.
“It was just a big-time breakdown,” Fedor concluded. “But I do think it’s fair to wonder about the personnel that was there on the floor and the strategy that was there on the floor, while also giving a ton of credit to one of the greatest chess masters that we’ve seen in the last 15 years in Eric Spoelstra.”
While acknowledging Miami’s brilliant execution, both hosts emphasized that Cleveland’s defensive approach was fundamentally flawed.
This final-second collapse became even more significant in the context of Jarrett Allen’s absence.
Fedor revealed that Allen ranks 14th on the team in fourth-quarter minutes, despite being one of the Cavs’ core players and highest-paid talents. His absence in crucial defensive situations — including this final play — raises serious questions about the coaching staff’s decision-making.
“I know that the Cavs have reasons for not playing Jarrett Allen in fourth quarters,” Fedor acknowledged, “But I did feel like there was an advantage that the Cavs had with Jarrett on the floor that at times throughout the course of the game they were exploiting.”
The podcast also highlighted how Miami’s rebounding advantage contributed to the Cavaliers’ struggles. Sands pointed out that Miami’s Kel’el Ware dominated with 20 rebounds, while Jaime Haquez Jr. added 13 of his own — evidence that Cleveland’s lack of size was proving costly throughout the game.
Beyond the tactical analysis, the hosts explored the emotional impact of this loss.
For a team with championship aspirations, these kinds of late-game execution errors could prove costly in the long run, especially considering the injury concerns surrounding Darius Garland that were also discussed earlier in the episode.
For Cavaliers fans seeking to understand the nuances behind this heartbreaking loss and what it might reveal about the team’s strategic approach, this episode of Wine and Gold Talk provides invaluable insights from two of the most knowledgeable voices covering the team.
Listen to the complete episode for the full breakdown of the final play, plus extended discussion on injury updates and other key moments from this unforgettable early-season matchup.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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