Miami Heat Roundtable: How Far Will This Team Go This Season – Jack’s Take
A lot of major media outlets have been giving the Miami Heat a lot of buzz this offseason. With the number of moves they made, many expect them to be a top team in the Eastern Conference.
Jack’s Take (@JackSimoneNBA)
However, Pat Riley and his team probably have higher expectations than that. They made a Finals run a little over a year ago and they definitely want to replicate that success, at the very least.
The NBA is more talented than ever right now and a ton of teams are looking to make a run in the playoffs. This is especially true in the Eastern Conference, as a bunch of teams are sick of losing and want to win right now.
Teams such as the Nets, Bucks, Celtics, and 76ers will still be competitive and teams like the Bulls, Hawks, and Knicks could be super competitive too. Depending on where the Miami Heat finish in the regular season, they could have a pretty tough first-round matchup.
That being said, the Heat should be able to take down their first-round opponent, barring the unlikely scenario that they have to face the Bucks or Nets. That matchup would likely be put off until the second round.
This is where things start to get tough, as most Round 2 matchups will be fairly difficult. The ceiling of the Miami Heat is obviously an NBA Championship, but their floor is probably a second-round exit.
Therefore, the official prediction should be right in the middle.
Official Prediction: Eastern Conference Finals