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Miami Heat: Games with playoff implications for Heat fans to watch this week

By Duncan Smith

WASHINGTON, DC -  MARCH 23: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat signs autographs after the game against the Washington Wizards on March 23, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  MARCH 23: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat signs autographs after the game against the Washington Wizards on March 23, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC –  MARCH 23: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat signs autographs after the game against the Washington Wizards on March 23, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC –  MARCH 23: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat signs autographs after the game against the Washington Wizards on March 23, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The playoff chase is intensifying in the Eastern Conference and the contenders for the final two spots are down to three teams, including the Miami Heat. We’ll take a look at the outlook this week for all three teams.

The Miami Heat are hanging on to the eight seed in the Eastern Conference for dear life with the Orlando Magic surging behind them. In front of the Heat in the seven seed are the suddenly floundering Detroit Pistons, leaving just enough room for error that the Heat might have as good a shot at the seven seed as missing out on the playoffs entirely.

With just nine games remaining for all three teams, perhaps the most critical week of the regular season for the trio is set to unfold. With just two games in the standings separating the seven seed from ninth place, all games matter, but head to head games and matchups against very good teams are additionally important.

Currently, the two major projection sites have the Pistons, Heat and Magic with the following playoff percentages:

ESPN’s BPI projections

  • Pistons, 91.6 percent
  • Heat, 68.8 percent
  • Magic, 37 percent

FiveThirtyEight CARMELO projections

  • Pistons, 95 percent
  • Heat, 58 percent
  • Magic, 46 percent

The Heat own no tiebreakers against either the Magic or Pistons, so finishing with a better record than at least one of those teams is vital.

We’ll take a look at the action coming up for the Heat, Magic and Pistons this week

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