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Miami Heat: Should they tank or compete?

By Imran Ebrahim

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 8: Josh Richardson #0, Justise Winslow #20 and Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat face the Sacramento Kings on February 8, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 8: Josh Richardson #0, Justise Winslow #20 and Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat face the Sacramento Kings on February 8, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /

If the team decides to continue competing, what is the realistic ceiling they can reach in the Eastern Conference?

Ebrahim (@iebrahim81): If they’re lucky, I would imagine the 7th seed could be the ceiling for this Miami Heat team. Are Detroit, Charlotte, or Orlando (the current 7th, 8th, and 9th seeds) really better than the Heat? Probably not. But are the Heat REALLY better than either of those teams? Probably not, too. And what if the Heat were to make the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed? Does anyone in their right mind truly see them beating a Antetokounmpo-led team or the Raptors’ bench mob in a 7-game series? I’d actually be praying for the Heat to go out on a sweep, just so Dwyane Wade plays his last game at home as opposed to in the ‘6ix.’

Nurse (@followthepen): If the Heat continue to compete, their realistic ceiling would be ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Rahming (@Boneman9000): 1st round exit at the absolute best. Even if the Heat make a big push and enter the playoffs as the 7th seed, their first-round matchup would either be against the Bucks in Milwaukee or the Raptors in Toronto. In a pipe dream, the Pacers would go on a tear to end the season and somehow steal the 2nd seed from the Raptors, but I just don’t see it happening. Yes, getting a favorable matchup against a team with no healthy all-stars would be fantastic for the organization and the fanbase, a 1st round exit against a contending team is a lot more realistic.

Mora (@moraivan): If all goes well, the Heat can certainly make the playoffs but to what extent.  Say they end up with a winning record in these last 22 games and bump up to the 7th seed.  They will face off against the Toronto Raptors if standings don’t change too much. They’re 0-2 against them with one last matchup remaining in Miami.  The Raptors are a way more talented and collective group that will surely outlast the Heat in 7 games. Maybe not even reach that, it will probably be in 5 if Miami gets lucky.  Say they barely squeeze into the playoffs with the eighth seed, they will face off against possible NBA MVP Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks. Yes, they’ve split the season series at 1-1 but were completely destroyed in their last matchup 124-86.  The Bucks have the best record in the NBA. In both conferences. Miami Heat is no match for either the Raptors or Bucks at this point. It will be a 1st round exit regardless.

Campbell (@theboyro): For the first time since last decade the East is wide open. The Miami Heat have no chance of doing anything in the playoffs. Period. They are a first round exit against any top-4 team in the conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo wouldn’t be stopped by any Heat players. Toronto has Kawhi Leonard and that’s good enough to advance. Even though the Boston Celtics are going through some rough times, they still could and would handle the Heat easily. Even the Victor Oladipo-less Pacers would be favored against Miami. Another thing: we won’t know definitely when Wade’s last game will be. I would rather they don’t make the playoffs so Wade would get his proper and emotional sendoff.

Wilson (@ksaidwhat): If the Heat can manage a couple of multi-game streaks over the last weeks in the season, they could realistically get to 6th place. Now this would require help from a few teams above them, but it could really happen with Brooklyn at 6 and having to work a few key guys back in from injury.  At 6, 7, or 8, you are looking at Milwaukee, Toronto, or Indiana. Realistically, the Raptors are the only awful matchup for the Heat. Looking at Milwaukee, they struggle to create offense in the half court outside of “The Freak”, and the playoffs are all about half court offense.  Even still, in the playoffs, the paint will condense and Antetokounmpo may find an eviction notice on his residence in the paint. When thinking about Indiana, they don’t have a true “go-to guy” in late games, especially since Oladipo went down earlier with the knee injury. Although they are a good team with a great coach, you need a guy that can “get you one” in the playoffs. The Heat have Dwayne Wade (see Golden State), and Dragic can be that guy on occasions. So although it seems unlikely, the Heat could sneak past in a first round series where every game, every play, and every player  is game-planned for.

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