The Heat has been in the middle of the pack of teams in the NBA’s East in the last few years, not helped by very few roster changes and the rise of other franchises in the conference. With LeBron having left for L.A., Miami should make the most of the situation and compete better. However, Boston, Milwaukee, Toronto, and Philadelphia are now the top favorites.
Nonetheless, Vegas odds-makers predict that the Heat has a nearly 45 percent chance of still making it to the postseason. While this was predicted before the season even started, it is arguably on point, with the team as of this writing currently sporting a 6-9 record. However, the resurgence of the Hornets and the Magic in recent games position them two slots below the top eight.
In any case, erratic and inconsistent play by its starters, including Dragic and Whiteside, is not helping the Heat’s case. And their leader Wade is due to miss another week as he celebrates the birth of his daughter. Winslow, Richardson, and Waiters must step up if the team is to get to a winning percentage.
All in all, the Heat will find it harder to ensure a playoff stint this year if it doesn’t get its act together soon. The Pistons, with new coach Dwane Casey and Griffin’s monster games of late, is doing much better. Orlando also seems set on making the top eight with stellar plays from Gordon, Vucevic, and Fournier. Perhaps focusing on developing its younger set of talents (and perhaps considering parting ways with Whiteside and Dragic) is the way to go for this “mid-tier” Heat team.
Hi, there. My name is Michael Volitich, and I’m a student at the University of Florida pursuing a degree in creative writing. I’m also an aspiring sports writer and fanatic, lit geek, film buff, and occasional traveler. For more on my hobbies and interests, follow me on Twitter.
Michael Volitich 