The Miami Heat are locked into the playoffs. That’s, thankfully, without having to endure the new play-in round either.
With a win against the Boston Celtics and a Knicks loss on Tuesday, they were not only able to propel themselves up a slot to the fifth seed, but lock themselves into a non-play-in NBA Playoff berth. With a few games left for most of the teams involved, there is still a chance that the Heat can climb higher, though it looks unlikely at the moment.
With that though and if the Heat stay just where they are, who would be the preferred opponent? That’s an easy answer, apparently, but that becomes clearer with progress.
Kenneth Wilson – New York Knicks
To be completely honest, either the Knick or the Hawks would present an equal challenge in a playoff scenario. The Hawks have Trae Young and the Knicks have Julius Randle, both of whom can kill you.
Though Atlanta has a bit more firepower, overall, the Knicks style of play is more suited for the types of games that will be played in the playoffs. That makes them about even, as far as potential Miami Heat opponents go.
If you had to choose one though, it would be New York. They want to play the same way as the Heat want to play, except that Heat are better at it.
They can be better defensively and are always better offensively. You can also throw in the fact that they are 3-0 in their meetings with New York this year and that should bode well for Miami.