The Miami Heat will have to win two additional road games (in the NBA Play-In Tournament) to just earn the right to face off against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. It's the toughest road to reach the postseason, and they only have themselves to blame.
Miami could've avoided this entirely had they not dropped 10 of their last 15 games of the season. As they limp into the Play-In Tournament, the Heat will have a high hurdle to clear to even just qualify for the playoffs.
Playing some of their most inconsistent basketball of the year won't help matters either.
The Heat still have a fighting chance
However, especially with the way the Heat operate, all they ever want is a shot. And that's exactly what they'll have heading into the Play-In Tournament. Still, having to do so on the road won't be easy.
And that's what may end up costing the Heat a spot in the NBA Playoffs. Beating the Charlotte Hornets and then the Orlando Magic or Philadelphia 76ers may not seem that daunting. However, especially for the Heat, having to do so on the road could be their ultimate detriment.
The Heat have been one of the worst East teams on the road this season, finishing the year with a 17-24 record away from their home floor. The argument could be made that the Heat should like their chances against a less experienced Hornets team, and a 76ers squad missing Joel Embiid, but nothing has been easy for the Heat this season.
Add in the fact that the Heat may need to face off against the Magic again, a team that they've gone 0-5 against this season, and it becomes much easier to see why it's difficult for Heat fans to find any level of confidence heading into the Play-In Tournament.
Nothing is off the table for Erik Spoesltra
Heading into the postseason, nothing can be considered off the table for Erik Spoelstra and the Heat. At this point, the Heat need to be prepared to try new things and to completely unleash the potential of this roster.
It may not be entirely high, but there's no point in Spo keeping any moves in his back pocket. That means we could see an awful lot of Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware on the floor together.
And considering what may be at stake this offseason, that may be considered a good thing. The Heat needs some clarity on what this team is and what it isn't. Just maybe that's what this postseason run could reveal for the Heat.
Of course, that's if they can stretch it beyond just one game. With how the Heat have been playing of late, that's far from a foregone conclusion, though.