Miami Heat: Best And Worst NBA Play-In Tournament Scenarios

The Miami Heat would be best off facing Brooklyn early, for as crazy as that may sound.

The most optimistic outlook for Miami Heat reminds of one of the great cinematic experiences. Specifically, a quote from the great Clint Eastwood in the exceptional movie, Dirty Harry.

"“I know what you’re thinking punk, you’re thinking, ‘did he fire six shots, or only five?’ Now to tell you the truth, I forgot myself in all this excitement, but being that this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in all the world and will blow your head clean off, you got to ask yourself a question: Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?”"

The Good 

In many ways, staring down the pipe of the Nets offense looks the same as eying the heavy revolver in Eastwood’s hand. The lethal offense bears the three-headed monster of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.

The Nets are second in points per game, second in offensive rating, first in field goal percentage, first in efficient field goal percentage, and fourth in three-point percentage. The lack of health among the three stars has done little to sour the blindingly powerful snd point-getting machine just south of Manhattan though.

But I submit to you this as the best route for the Heat. The best-case scenario is that the Miami Heat fall to the Hornets, only to play the Wizards to stay alive.

The Wizards are exactly two players: Russel Westbrook and Bradley Beal.

With Jimmy Butler on Beal and Westbrook’s playoff shot selection (the last four years, he has shot over 40 percent from the field once in the postseason and is a career 29 percent shooter from deep), plays defense on himself. Miami should easily dispatch the Wizards.

Now, why do all this to play the top seed? Its simple and because the Heat have shown an exceptional talent for slowing games down and forcing teams into their pace.