The Miami Heat are unlikely to emerge as a real contender in the Eastern Conference this season, but that doesn't mean they can't be a team no one will want to face in the NBA Playoffs. Especially if you buy into their top 10 net rating (and top 5 defensive rating).
After all, it is somewhat odd that a team with the 16th-best record in the NBA has a top-10 net rating. That does seem to suggest that they may be better than their record may indicate.
How much better remains to be seen, but, at full strength, there's reason to believe that the Heat could round into a dangerous playoff team over the final stretch of the season.
And, quite frankly, finishing in the top 6 of the East standings isn't completely out of the question for the Heat. Miami has one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league and is only two games out of the sixth seed and three games back of the fifth.
If Miami can string a few wins together, this is a team that's going to find itself in a truly interesting spot heading into the postseason.
The Heat might be better than their record suggests
A lot can change between now and the end of the season, but the Heat has the fifth-best net rating among East teams. They also continue to have one of the best overall defenses in the NBA (fourth in the defensive rating metric). If the Heat can get into any kind of consistent offensive rhythm, the Heat could evolve into a headache of a first-round opponent.
While playing with the No. 1 PACE in the league, the Heat still has a below-average offense - they rank 17th in offensive rating.
Any level of consistency on that end of the floor, and the outlook for this team is instantly going to look a whole lot different.
More specifically, if Erik Spoelstra can solve the Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware frontcourt duo concerns, and if they can effectively find the right roles for Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, the Heat have more than enough depth to throw a real wrench in the East playoff field.
Especially with the way their young core continues to show growth with every passing game, the Heat is slowly becoming a team that can't be completely ignored.
Whether the Heat could pull off a first-round playoff upset or not is an entirely different question. However, with the opportunity to beef up on a soft schedule ahead of the postseason, the Heat could enter the playoffs with a ton of momentum - and confidence - if they play their cards right.
Considering we've seen this team do it before, it's not outlandish to believe that Miami could emerge as a formidable threat, especially if they can avoid the Play-in Tournament, heading into the East playoffs.