Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat have a huge set of consecutive games against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics, though a day in between one another, they will go a long way towards determining their NBA Playoff Play-In Game fates. Basically, by handling their business on Sunday and Tuesday, they can ensure that they are no lower than than the sixth seed heading into the postseason.
With both them and the Celtics having three games left following the matchups between the two, along with the Miami Heat’s current one game lead on them in the seedings, the Miami Heat can put themselves out three whole games with two wins. While the three games would then lead one to believe that the Celtics still have an opportunity to pull even with the Heat, record-wise, you still have to take into account the remaining games played by the two.
The Miami Heat can control their own NBA Playoffs Play-In destiny with two wins against the Celtics, starting on Mother’s Day.
After their matchup against Boston, the Miami Heat finish the season with games against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Detroit Pistons. While they could win all three of those games, we’ll be less than fair and say they go 1-2.
With the Celtics remaining schedule after Miami twice being the Cavaliers, the Timberwolves, and closing with the Knicks, it’s very likely that they could go 2-1 but even if they did go 3-0, it wouldn’t be enough. With the Miami Heat’s ability to get out to a three game lead after their two matchups and the fact that the Detroit matchup in the last game of the season should be a Heat victory, that would make it virtually impossible for Boston to close the gap.
While the sixth seed earns the right to face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, that’s better than a play-in situation, right? Who knows, but one thing is for certain, the Heat shouldn’t be looking to play extra games.
That’s why they need to handle their business on Sunday and Tuesday. They, sort of, control their own destiny here.