The Miami Heat are the third-fiddle in the NBA’s Eastern Conference as things begin to take shape… or the fourth, depending on whom you ask. Either way though, they aren’t the favorites or the direct competition to the favorites, according to many.
Based on the talent that the Brooklyn Nets roster, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant and the prowess of the Big 3 of the reigning NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks, a group led by Giannis Antetokounmpo but that features Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, the Miami Heat are firmly behind both of those squads in the collective thoughts of many right now.
Again, depending on whom you ask and though seemingly dependent on the whole Ben Simmons scenario playing out there right now, some might still slot the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of them.
The Miami Heat are, at least, third-fiddle behind both the Bucks and the Nets. That’s not a terrible place to be though, from a pressurization stand point.
With Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and whatever good to great piece of talent they bring in for Ben Simmons, they should still be able to get some things done too.
So then, what does it all mean for the Miami Heat? Why is being underrated, for lack of better terms, something to celebrate?
While the Miami Heat, as an organization and especially this roster, have the essential toughness to be able to compete and get things done in any situation, one like this should make things all the much easier. They currently find themselves in a position where they have all the talent to go as far as they want to go, but aren’t necessarily expected to be able to get it done.
While there is pressure internally, from themselves and the organization, they aren’t facing anything like that which the Big 3 Miami Heat had to face, in example, or any LeBron team for that matter. They should be able to clearly go out and compete with all they have on any given night because even though they should have a good chance to win on any given night, they won’t be expected to best those teams.
That just means it’ll be that much sweeter when they do. That’s why being the third or fourth-fiddle in the East though, might not be so bad.