After a predictably shaky start to the 2021 NBA season, the Miami Heat seem to have hit their stride and look like the team that made the NBA Finals last season.
Who would have thought that once Miami got their good players back from injury/NBA Health protocol, the season would turn around? That’s definitely tongue in cheek.
With their win against Atlanta on Sunday, Miami has now won six games in a row, the longest active streak in the league. During this streak, the Heat have beaten two potential Western Conference Finals teams in Utah and the Lakers.
With only two games left until the All-Star break, I thought it would be fun to try and guess how long this winning streak will last.
Here’s Miami’s schedule for the next couple of weeks: Atlanta, New Orleans, Orlando, Chicago, Orlando, Cleveland, Memphis, Indiana twice, and Phoenix. If Jimmy Butler doesn’t miss any more time with knee soreness and Tyler Herro finds his legs again, this Heat team could really make a run over the next three weeks.
Can Miami Heat Stay Hot?: The Athletic Freaks Portion Of The Schedule
The first road bump I see in this schedule is New Orleans. Zion is an absolute freak and as much as I love Bam, Zion is just one of those dudes that really can’t be stopped athletically.
Butler will use a lot of his energy on the defensive end guarding Brandon Ingram because I don’t see anyone else besides Iggy having a chance. If those two young stars for the Pelicans can light it up, Miami will be challenged.
If Orlando still only has 8 players available, then I can’t see the Magic being too much of a threat. That’s the same with Cleveland, though I love what Collin Sexton has done this year, and although rookie Isaac Okoro is having a really nice rookie campaign, the Cavaliers have no business beating this Miami team.
Chicago is an interesting matchup for Miami and just because of the tear that Zach Lavine is currently on. Jimmy and company will have to really keep the clamps on him to make sure Lavine doesn’t will his Bulls to a win by himself.
Moving on to Memphis, I actually fear for Goran and Kendrick Nunn’s lives if they have to guard Ja Morant. The Grizzlies could definitely beat Miami if the Heat are looking past them.
Can Miami Heat Stay Hot?: The Pesky, Yet Elite Teams, Portion Of The Schedule
Miami’s back to back games against Indiana is a logical guess where the Heat’s winning streak will end. One, back to backs are weird and it’s tough to beat a team twice within a 48-hour period.
Two, even though Jimmy has owned Indiana, they’re still just not a fun team to play. The Pacers grind teams out for 48 minutes and make it unenjoyable for the opposing squad.
Think… the way that Memphis used to do it… on steroids. They will be ending this particular stretch with the Phoenix Suns, by far the most talented team the Heat will face since beating the Utah Jazz.
Phoenix creates a host of problems for Miami. Here’s my question though.
Can this team really win the next nine games to run their streak all the way up to a fifteen-game win streak headed into that game with the Suns? The Heat Culture code of conduct and by-laws requires that I answer “yes”.
My best guess is that I think Miami rides the rest of the first half of the season undefeated and loses to either Cleveland or Indiana. As much fun as this streak has been, it must come to an end.
But that’s okay! Because the Miami Heat are back baby (furiously knocks on all the wood)!
If guys can stay healthy, a top 4 seed in the Eastern Conference is more than doable for this group. I actually wouldn’t expect anything less.