It's become quite easy to doubt the Miami Heat. However, the fact that we still haven't seen this team at complete health for an extended period of time does offer an intriguing "what if." If the Heat can get healthy down the stretch, there's reason to believe that they can be a dangerous postseason team, perhaps even to the level that would surprise their own fans.
That's what they discussed on The Game Theory podcast, naming the Heat as quite possibly one of the most dangerous Play-In Tournament teams in the league.
Why the Heat can be a dangerous postseason team
Statistically, something doesn't feel right with this Heat team. And perhaps the team's "lack of health" is one big explanation.
Miami has a top 5 defense and the 11th-best net rating in the league. They have the best offensive PACE in the league, but just the 15th best offense per O-Rating. The fact that they're not even a top 6 team in the conference doesn't make that much sense.
And, just maybe, the big reason for that is their lack of health. That's certainly something the Heat is hoping to balance itself out heading down the stretch. Miami is two games back of the sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers with 21 regular-season games left.
It's not impossible ground to make up, but it certainly won't be easy.
The Heat are tired of being a dark horse
Of course, this is nothing new. Even though it could draw another level of interest for fans heading into the postseason to be labeled as a "dangerous Play-In Tournament team," this is not necessarily what fans want to hear.
Heat fans, for the most part, are tired of being a "dangerous team" in the Play-In Tournament. This has somewhat become their MO for the past three seasons. While it did result in one dream playoff run, in which they made it all the way to the NBA Finals, it's hard to imagine how this roster is going to replicate even a fraction of that success.
Jimmy Butler isn't walking through that door, and it's almost impossible to envision one player on this team that could get to that level, even if it is just for a couple of weeks.
So while it may "feel good" to be described as a team that could emerge as a dangerous Play-In Tournament team, this is also a label that has been played out for the fan base. It's also something players on the roster may be growing weary of.
Just last week, Bam Adebayo told reporters after another close loss that he was tired of being a "Play-In" team. And this is kind of the double-edged sword with this honor.
Sure, it could feel good to enter the postseason as a "dangerous" team, but it could also be fool's gold. Especially for a team that has been there and done that so many times before.