5 Updated Miami Heat predictions for the rest of the 2023-24 season

2. The Miami Heat will secure a top-five playoff seed in the East.

The Heat are cooking at the right time, coming off a five-game win streak and having won nine of their last 12. When the team went on that seven-game losing streak I had some doubts and thought maybe a roster shakeup was needed before the trade deadline.

However, as the Heat so often do, they have shut those minor doubts up. The resiliency this squad has shown since that rough patch is impressive. Maybe not as impressive as a No. 8 seed reaching the NBA Finals (like they did last year), but the Heat have a reputation that you can never count them out no matter the circumstances.

One-and-a-half games separate the Knicks, 76ers, Magic, Pacers and Heat. The Knicks have lost seven of their last 10, the Sixers continue to slide without Joel Embiid and, of that group, I trust the Heat to keep this run going and climb the standings. – Daniel Riccio