Cleveland Cavaliers Face Miami Heat with Former Player Max Strus

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to face the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA playoffs, featuring a familiar face in their lineup: Max Strus. Strus, who played an essential role in the Heat’s run to the NBA Finals last year, now serves as the starting small forward for the No. 1 seed Cavaliers.

Strus left Miami in the 2023 offseason, signing a four-year, $63 million contract with Cleveland. He became a significant contributor during Miami’s playoff journey, averaging 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists throughout the postseason. His strong performances helped the Heat reach the finals but ultimately fall to the Denver Nuggets.

As the playoffs begin, Strus’s familiarity with the Heat’s tactics is already becoming advantageous for the Cavaliers. Head coach Kenny Atkinson praised Strus’s contributions during film sessions, noting his insights into Miami’s style of play, which he shared with the coaching staff. “He knows the personnel and gave a couple of things the coaches didn’t bring up,” said Atkinson.

Strus began his career with the Heat as an undrafted player from DePaul, quickly becoming a fan favorite and a representative of the “Heat Culture.” Though he struggled in the finals against the Nuggets, shooting just 23 percent, his value remained high enough for teams across the league to pursue him. This season, Strus averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while battling injuries.

Heat center Bam Adebayo dismissed any concerns about Strus’s impact in the series, saying, “I don’t give a f**k about Max Strus,” indicating confidence in their own preparations and strategies.

As the Heat gear up for this challenging playoff series, Strus is expected to play a significant role in Cleveland’s strategies against his former team. The playoffs commence Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, promising an exciting matchup as both teams seek success in the postseason.