Miami Heat Round Table: Digesting Heat vs Hornets

5. With the Hornets series over, how do you feel about the Heat going forward in the Eastern Conference Playoffs?

Sanning: Eastern Conference Finals. I picked Dwyane Wade vs LeBron to start the season and I’m going down with the ship. Toronto may have won the season series against the Heat this year, but I have no doubt in my mind Miami can make it past them, even without Chris Bosh. His absence may be felt in the Cleveland series, though.

Tachauer: I truly believe they can and will make the Eastern Conference Finals. While I didn’t expect the first round to be so grueling, the way the Heat finished things off only made me believe in them more.

Keaton: I feel like the Heat have been playing this entire season to end up going toe to toe with Cleveland. Surviving that series against Charlotte just means they are one step closer to that destiny. I think Toronto is a bit more talented than Charlotte, and should provide a much better glimpse into where the Heat really are.

Haynes: ECF or bust. To me, the Heat seem to have the best team chemistry of teams left in the playoffs. They really seem to enjoy playing together and the first round seemed to cement that bond. Talentwise, only Cleveland has better talent in the east. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team make it to the finals.

Kassim: While the Pacers were my preferred option for this series, the Raptors don’t scare me as much as they did before the playoffs began. Their two stars aren’t very efficient and have not been so far these playoffs. The Raptors also showed they did not perform too well during high pressure moments. In close games late, I’d trust the Heat over the Raps all day. Plus, who other than the Raptors, their fans, and Drake doesn’t want to see LeBron vs the Heat in the ECF?

Goldberg: Before the playoffs, most Heat fans were concerned with two teams: The Hornets and Celtics. Both are out of the playoffs now, and represented the toughest challenges matchup-wise. That’s not to say they will be tougher outs than the Raptors or possible the Cavaliers, but those teams had “the math” on their side. The Raptors will be tough. Their bench can win games for them and Miami’s rotation has been a mess since re-inserting Whiteside into the starting lineup. DeMar DeRozan will be back for revenge after a poor Round 1 and Kyle Lowry has a series under his belt and will likely put his foot on the gas against Dragic (an average defender). Still, both teams are about even and I suspect nothing less than the Eastern Conference Finals is what the Heat are aspiring to.