Can the Heat avoid the play-in round? They have 13 games left in the 2024 season and are the #7 seed. They beat Cleveland on Wednesday to go 3-1 on the road trip. Now they start a four game homestand against New Orleans. What are the problems the Heat face? Furthermore, how has the landscape changed since the start of the second half? What do they need to do to avoid the play-in tournament.
Heat play-in round point #2: Teams in front of Heat
The Celtics, Bucks, Cavaliers, Knicks and Magic are all ahead of the Heat. The Celtics will be the top seed for the playoffs. In this article here from Celticsblog.com, the Celtics are now wondering how to preserve their players for the playoffs. Teams with leads this big always have this problem. In this article here from Yahoo Sports, the Bucks don’t look that ready to contend.
The Cavaliers are a surprise in the #3 seed and were the #2 seed. But, they have fallen back in the standings and Donovan Mitchell is out with a nose fracture. However, the Cavaliers are having problems with bookies as this article here on ESPN.com. The Knicks, conversely, are having the best time. In this article here from Bleacher Report, the Knicks are quietly anticipating making a deep playoff run.
Finally, the Magic are in the #4 seed and this article here from the Orlando Magic Daily says they are ready for a playoff run. The 76ers and Pacers are in a virtual tie with Miami for the #6 seed. The 76ers trail Miami 2-1 in the season series and the Heat and Pacers are tied 1-1 with one game remaining.
Heat play-in round point #1: “Realities”
Coach Spolestra says there have been some “realities” that the team has had to accept lately (like going back to the play-in.) Read the article here on sunsentinel.com. They are the only contending playoff team that is in the Top 5 of most player games missed due to injury. Read it in my article here on our site. The Pelicans play the Heat tonight at the Kaseya Center to start a four game home stand. They can control that outcome.
Jimmy Butler says the Heat will beat the Pelicans tonight. Read the article here on Sunsentinel.com. The last time the Heat played the Pelicans, Butler fought Pelicans player Naji Howard and was ejected along with Thomas Bryant and Nikola Jovic (who left the bench.) For any Heat fan, it would be great if they went back to the finals but the adventure so far has been great.
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