As much as it may pain Miami Heat fans to admit, the team is heading into the final regular-season game of the year with stakes that everyone could see coming from a mile away. The Heat are battling for the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the final day of the regular season.
The Heat are currently the 10th seed in the standings and, at best, will finish 9th. Either way, if Miami is going to earn its way into the official playoff field, they'll have to win two games in the Play-In Tournament to do so.
It's certainly disappointing, but considering how limited this roster was coming into this season, this should not be surprising in the least. Funny enough, it does feel like this is a season outcome that everyone saw coming except the coaching staff and the front office.
Or they just refused to admit it.
The Heat's season is mercifully nearing an end
But with how much things have fallen off the rails recently, between the constant injuries and losing 10 of their last 14 games, it may be a good thing that the Heat's season is nearing an end.
Sure, they still have to play out the postseason, but, at this point, it would come as a big surprise if the Heat can play their way into the playoff field and then put up much of a competitive effort in the first round against the Detroit Pistons.
Miami has been a pillar of mediocrity of late, so it would be almost foolish to expect a different outcome from what they've proven over the first seven months of this season.
Whether it's in the next few days or in the next week or so, the Heat will head into the offseason with more questions than answers.
The offseason can't come soon enough for the Heat
And that may not be necessarily a bad thing.
There are many times when teams are forced into necessary changes. The Heat may finally find itself in that very same position. Changes are desperately needed in Miami. It can no longer be debated. And if they were apprehensive before, they can't be now.
In many ways, the offseason arriving sooner rather than later could be a good thing for the Heat. They may not publicly admit it, but even the fans are ready for change.
Especially after a "gap" season played out just how disappointing everyone though it would.