Miami Heat: NBA season is back on, but who will they play next?

After two meetings among players, the NBA season has been confirmed to return, with the Miami Heat still waiting to learn their round-two opponent. 

Just when the Miami Heat and NBA’s postseason began heating up in Orlando, Florida, things came to a halt in light of the social justice movement. In protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bucks elected to boycott their Game 5 on Wednesday.

The other four teams slated to play on Wednesday: the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers all elected to boycott their Game 5’s as well.

The result? The NBA postponed Thursday’s games as well, but after two players’ meetings and a Board of Governors meeting; will continue the postseason at some point over the weekend.

That will start with the resumption of the round one series, with five of eight first-round matchups still without an emerging victor. Leaving three teams, like the Miami Heat, sitting in somewhat of a limbo and rest period while waiting for round one to be completed.

Could this have any effect on the Miami Heat’s potential round two opponent?

Before the postseason was halted, the Milwaukee Bucks were the overwhelming favorite to face off with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Will that hold true when that series inevitably tips off at some point in mid to late next week?

Milwaukee was facing an injured Orlando Magic team, who were missing key contributors point guard Michael Carter-Williams and starting forward Aaron Gordon.

That didn’t stop the underdog from opening up the series with a wake-up call routing of the Bucks in Game 1. Now, it’ll be anywhere from four to seven days since the team last met, given the Magic’s two injured personnel all the more time to get up on the mend.

Carter-Williams was coming off the bench for Orlando this year but was giving them good minutes: 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Gordon’s started in each of his 62 games this season averaging 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists nightly.

Could those two returning healthy give the Magic a better chance at taking on, or outlasting what was expected to be a Game 5 loss to Milwaukee? It’s hard to get behind an Orlando series win, even with a healthy Gordon and Carter-Williams, but they could definitely win another game.

Playing a Bucks team with less momentum would certainly be ideal for Miami. The Heat aren’t considered favorites, nor underdogs in any potential matchup with Milwaukee. Watch the rest of this first-round series, it could have championship implications South Beach fans.

For now, the Miami Heat will sit back and rest while awaiting confirmation on their Semi-Finals opponent. Whether the Orlando Magic or Milwaukee Bucks, trust they’ll show up ready.