The Miami Heat just cracks the top 10 of ESPN’s NBA restart Power rankings

The Miami Heat were a top team in the league and in their conference before the season was suspended. ESPN thinks they are just barely that at the moment.

The Miami Heat are a team that is used to being the underdog. Heck, they practically relish in the role.

You would imagine that this is due to a few things. One, it allows you to possible sneak up on your competition, with them believing the hype of the rankings, standings, or records, thinking that this Miami Heat team is a rollover could get you rolled over.

The second reason is that it serves as a means of motivation. In any scenario, when someone thinks that the establishment or the world is out to get them, then they tend to perform above their typical means of performance.

You can say they were pushed, inspired, or challenged to go above and beyond their typical performances, but no matter how you look at it, this scenario tends to produce maximum results for the challenged party.

Lastly, the Miami Heat simply likes being in this role. It is easier to sell the culture this way than the other way around.

Telling a guy or a group of guys that “no one believes in them” or that “everyone thinks they suck”, as implied by the second reason, is easier to use as a method of making them buy in than patting them on the back. Comfort breeds complacency but by keeping them uncomfortable and hungry, you ensure that it rarely or has a hard time creeping in.

The Miami Heat were ranked behind teams they’ve owned this year heading into Orlando. Here’s what we mean.

Well, they just got all of the motivation that they may need as they look to head into the NBA restart in Orlando. ESPN recently released their power rankings as we head into the NBA Bubble and needless to say, there are questions.

While most of it looks to be fair, the main questions surround the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors, ranked at seven and four, respectively. They have dominated the season series’ against these teams this year. On the 76ers, winning three of the four contests they’ve played against the team this year.

They’ve also owned the series against the Toronto Raptors this year, winning both of the games they have played. Throw in the fact that Bam Adebayo has also seemingly owned Pascal Siakam in the matchups, Toronto’s best player, it gets even more confusing.

Here is what ESPN’s Nick Friedell had to say of the Miami Heat.

"Is the bubble atmosphere perfect for the Heat?Jimmy Butler has always believed that he could be the face of a championship-caliber team, despite some doubts across the league that his game is better suited for a secondary role. He has his chance now, as the Heat — who have cultivated a basketball-centric culture for years — believe they come into the bubble with a competitive advantage, given how business-like their mindset is. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra believes the bubble environment can bring the best out of Butler."

Friedell asks a good question. He also makes a few good points in his spew.

However, the rankings themselves, need to be addressed. I am glad that we will get to see it all play out on the court though, hopefully, because something isn’t quite adding up.

They do disclaim the rankings at the top though, noting that “these rankings are based on which teams voters — a group of more than 40 reporters, insiders and editors — think belong higher heading into the remainder of the 2019-20 season.”

That isn’t enough for me though as you can only go by what we have seen thus far this year. And judging by what I have seen, I don’t know if both or either of those teams would rank higher than the Miami Heat at this point. But maybe we are just a little biased.