RealGM

The East race has been close all year but with the Heat win over Philadelphia they are now 21 games over .500 and 3 games up on 2nd. 3 games might look tight but they look like a safe bet to secure the top spot now. If the Heat go 9-8 the rest of the way, then their closest rivals would need to go;

Philly 13-6
Milwaukee 13-5
Chicago 13-5
Boston 14-3

Just to tie them.

The heat should be better than 9-8

Heat have 12 of their last 17 games at home. Unless something goes horribly wrong, it's pretty much a wrap.

I had to go no.

I really hope they do, but too much respect for the other top 5 teams in the east.

The only real saving grace is Miami can loose anyone and still be productive, hell they might be able to hold it with 2 key guys out for a short span ... the team is deep. A key injury on teams chasing them could end their run for the number 1 seed.

yes, other teams are too far away. chi, bos doesnt belong in the same conversation.

At home majority of the season and destroying teams without their east-cp3, Kyle Low.....ry. Oladipo also returns Monday, so what do you think?

Brooklyn might finish 8th seed too, good luck with that.

Ritzo wrote:Brooklyn might finish 8th seed too, good luck with that.

Play-in will likely vault Nets into 7th. Finishing 7th just guarantees HCA for g1 of the 7-8 play-in.

Either way, we won by 6 in Brooklyn two days ago. Yes they were missing players, but we were as well.

i think yes they wont loose 1st seed

Yes. The thing is that I don't think Philly or Milwaukee want the #1 seed if it leads to a Brooklyn matchup in the 1st round.

It's likely but not guaranteed. They still have games vs. three of those teams, which are opportunities for those teams to more quickly close the gap. I'd say that the Bucks and Sixers have the best chance.

Heat are in a very easy division compared to the toughest division in basketball the Atlantic.

Heat and Suns have all but secured the top seeds in each conference.

Heat have an easy schedule remaining so likely yes.

Bucks, Bulls, Celtics have difficult schedules remaining.

Looks like it's going to be

1. Miami
2. Philadelphia

puppa bear wrote:

Ritzo wrote:Brooklyn might finish 8th seed too, good luck with that.

Play-in will likely vault Nets into 7th. Finishing 7th just guarantees HCA for g1 of the 7-8 play-in.

Either way, we won by 6 in Brooklyn two days ago. Yes they were missing players, but we were as well.

Brooklyn has an easy schedule remaining. Still a possibility they can avoid the playin but if they don't avoid the playin they'll likely play Miami or Philly in the 1st Round.

No, they visit philly with Harden in 2 weeks.

probably but they'll likely be bounced in the 1st round if they draw the Nets. At best they go out in Round 2. They can't beat the Bucks or 76ers healthy in a playoffs series. Same with the Nets.

Heat has the best home record in the east... 11 out of the next 12 are at home... I think the first seed is a wrap

Sixers, Bucks, and Bulls are capable making a run while the Heat are liable to drop a few games to bottom dweller teams.

Heat also face Sixers again who should have Harden this time around, and also games against PHX, CLE, MIN, GSW, BKN, BOS, CHI, TOR, and ATL.

dribble1614 wrote:probably but they'll likely be bounced in the 1st round if they draw the Nets. At best they go out in Round 2. They can't beat the Bucks or 76ers healthy in a playoffs series. Same with the Nets.

Brooklyn isn't losing to the crappy Raptors in the first play-in game so they'll most likely be the 7 seed. 76ers and Bucks are going to be the 2nd and 3rd seed so the Heat wouldn't play them until the ECF. Heat can definitely beat the Bulls/Celtics/Cavs.

They probably have. Hugely favorable schedule. Last night was the SECOND TIME the Sixers had to fly to Miami for a SEGABABA this season. Ridiculous. The Sixers actually beat the Heat the first time they did it, but they were obviously tired last night.

The Sixers play the Heat one more time in Philly on March 21st. And guess which team is playing on March 20th?

The Sixers.

What a joke. The Heat won’t get the benefit of this scheduling crap in the playoffs.

bebopdeluxe wrote:They probably have. Hugely favorable schedule. Last night was the SECOND TIME the Sixers had to fly to Miami for a SEGABABA this season. Ridiculous. The Sixers actually beat the Heat the first time they did it, but they were obviously tired last night.

The Sixers play the Heat one more time in Philly on March 21st. And guess which team is playing on March 20th?

The Sixers.

What a joke. The Heat won’t get the benefit of this scheduling crap in the playoffs.

It looks like the 76ers have played less games than the Heat. Are you sure this isn't due to makeup games?