There was a degree when the Miami Heat managed their future when it got here to a direct ticket to the best-of-seven opening spherical of the NBA playoffs.
Then got here Saturday evening’s troubling 129-100 residence loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Then got here Tuesday evening’s 106-92 loss in Toronto and Wednesday evening’s 101-92 loss in New York.
Now the Heat management solely a single aspect of their future: With their subsequent win or the Washington Wizards’ subsequent loss, the Heat might be assured of no worse than a berth within the play-in match that may resolve the ultimate two playoff seeds within the Eastern Conference.
In the play-in, the No. 7 seed hosts the No. 8 seed in a single recreation, with the winner securing the No. 7 playoff seed, enjoying the convention’s No. 2 seed within the first spherical. The loser of that Nos. 7-8 recreation hosts the winner of the sport between the Nos. 9-10 seeds, enjoying for the No. 8 seed and a first-round collection towards No. 1 within the East.
The Heat stand No. 7 within the East, at 40-37, with 5 video games remaining, subsequent to play the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday at Miami-Dade Arena.
“Losing is what got us here,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. “None of us feel good about it. This is where we are. You are what your record is. You are what has happened recently. But things can change quickly.”
So the place do issues stand for the Heat? About as tenuous as doable with 5 video games remaining of their common season that ends April 9.
No. 5: At 44-33 the Knicks secured the head-to-head tiebreaker with Wednesday evening’s victory at Madison Square Garden, taking the season collection 3-1.
If the Heat win out to shut 45-37, the Knicks would want to win solely one in every of their 5 remaining video games to guarantee themselves of not being handed within the seedings by the Heat.
No. 6: With Brooklyn at 41-35, a 4-2 end would guarantee the Nets of ending forward of the Heat within the seedings, even when the Heat win out.
Nos. 7-8-9: This figures to be the Heat’s almost definitely precedence over their closing 5 video games.
With the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors tied for Nos. 8-9 at 38-38, the Heat would lose a tiebreaker to the Raptors in the event that they end tied with Toronto. The Heat personal the tiebreaker towards the Hawks.
Should the Heat shut 3-2 to complete at 43-39, the Raptors may go the Heat within the seedings by closing 5-1. At 2-3 Heat end, would cut back that requirement to 4-2 for Toronto.
No. 10: At 36-40, it’s unlikely the Chicago Bulls, at present at No. 10, can transfer forward of the Heat within the seedings, even whereas proudly owning the tiebreaker by advantage of profitable the season collection 3-0.
Should the Heat shut 2-3 to shut at 42-40, Chicago must end 6-0 to maneuver forward of the Heat within the seedings.
Essentially, the Heat at present seem assured of internet hosting not less than one recreation within the play-in spherical.
Back once more
With the Heat struggling to generate offense in Toronto and with Max Strus in 4 hassle in New York, Duncan Robinson has been capable of expertise considerably of a revival the previous two video games, enjoying 27:53 towards the Knicks, when he shot 4 of 6 on 3-pointers.
Prior to enjoying 12 minutes in Toronto. Robinson had not performed greater than 4 since March 6.
“He kept himself ready and he’s given us a spark in his minutes in the last two games,” Spoelstra mentioned. “So I think that’s something we can build on.”
Robinson mentioned he embraced the minutes.
“I mean, I just try and make the most of the opportunities that present themselves,” he mentioned. “And some stuff you can control, some stuff you can’t. So I’m always going to be prepared. I’ve just been working to try to be ready for moments like that, and take advantage when I can.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com