The Miami Heat are headed to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Awaiting their second-round opponents, they now sit and wait until the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors finish their series.
With that, the question must be asked. Who would be the preferred opponents in Round 2? Well, that’s a good question.
Here are a few answers in the latest AUCH Roundtable!
Colton’s Take (@CMoleskyNBC15) – Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are the obvious choice for a preferred second-round opponent.
Maybe the most prominent reason is this one.
Who in the world would want to play the Toronto Raptors in round two?
If the far North squad can, somehow, pull off a return from down 0-3 in a series, they would be the hottest team in the NBA. No one should relish taking on that type of momentum.
Health is the other obvious key in this matchup. The 76ers are literally limping to the finish line of the first-round series.
Joel Embiid is nursing a thumb injury, reportedly holding off surgery, and James Harden still looks hampered by the lingering hamstring injury. To say this Philly squad is banged up is an understatement.
And finally, as a fan of NBA beef, a series pitting Jimmy Butler vs. the city of Philadelphia is deliciously tantalizing. Butler antagonizing a team and fanbase where things ended poorly holds the makings of delightful NBA beef.
The series could get wonderfully petty and I’m here for it.