Have the Heat Secured Top of the Table?

[California Gold]

#1 seed in the East has been cursed the last half decade - pretty much since the Cavs came back and beat the Warriors in the finals. Teams haven't been able to reach the finals as the #1 seed since then. Likely just a coincidence but still interesting - I guess that speaks to the depth of the Eastern conference in the playoffs. I expect it to be pretty competitive this year.

[bebopdeluxe]

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?

Good question. I am sure that when the NBA schedule makers put the schedule together, they have to take into account teams that play in dual use stadiums and schedule them accordingly. Sixers play in a dual use stadium, while Miami does not.

I don't know if that is a factor, but what I do know is last night was one of FIVE SEGABABA's that the Sixers have between now and the end of the season...which is brutal. Another reason why, after last night's loss, I think the Sixers are out as far as catching the Heat. You would have to think, for those four other SEGABABA's, either Harden or Embiid will get a night off in at least a couple of them...although I would expect that if there is still a shot of catching the Heat by March 21st, both of them will play on that SEGABABA against the Heat.

But, again...not making excuses...but how do the Sixers have THREE SEGABABA's - two ON THE ROAD - against the Heat?

[BenoUdrihFTL]

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

Brooklyn is no longer that looming superteam that scares everyone, they're just another team now. Actually they're a team with massive question marks and liabilities given the Kyrie and Simmons situations. The former won't be able to play home games, the latter will at best be playing himself into game shape/rhythm in the 1st round

But even a fully healthy/available Nets team isn't the type of matchup that poses the biggest problems for Miami. The Heat are vulnerable to strong defensive teams that force them to consistently execute and hit shots in the halfcourt, that's not the Nets

And with all that said, if Brooklyn is indeed a strong team then they'd likely win the 7/8 play-in game and end up the 7th seed anyways

[bebopdeluxe]

No, they visit philly with Harden in 2 weeks.

But, for the THIRD time this season, the Sixers will be on a SEGABABA when playing the Heat. Ridiculously good scheduling luck for the Heat.

[Rapaz]

What’s all this about DeSEGABABA Diop?

[bebopdeluxe]

What’s all this about DeSEGABABA Diop?

SEGABABA is basically shorthand for having to play back-to-back nights. For example, both Sixers/Heat games in Miami were SEGABABA games for the Sixers - where they had to fly to Miami for a game the night after a home game. I would think that is about as far as NBA teams are made to fly for back-to-back games. Obviously not ideal for the team having to fly in...getting to the hotel by, say 2 or 3AM, and having to play a game 16-17 hours later. For the first game in Miami, the Heat were also on a SEGABABA, but they were home for the Friday night game, which makes it easier, for sure.

For the game on March 21st, it is a SEGABABA for the Sixers, but not for the Heat...although the Sixers are at home on the 20th, so it is a little easier than the games in Miami.

[dribble1614]

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.

yea that’s true if the standings stay the way they are. hopefully brooklyn falls to 9-10 so they can play miami in the 1st round rather than philadelphia.

[heatwillbeback]

2-2 against the Bucks and at worst 2-2 against the Sixers. So tiebreakers would go to conference record and I feel confident in that.

Looks good but team has to take care of the upcoming home games.

Brooklyn/Toronto looming at 7-8. That’s not an easy matchup either way. East is deep this year so no gimme series, even in round 1.

[soxperry]

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?

lol east cp3

[BenoUdrihFTL]

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.

Dude this is weak

Heat were missing Butler, Bam and Herro for their first game vs Philly in Dec

Heat got Philly on the 2nd of a b2b in Jan, a game where Miami was missing Bam

This last meeting was Miami's 3rd game in 4 nights, 4th in 6 (all vs strong EC teams CHI, MIL, BKN and PHI) and Miami was missing Lowry

Philly has hardly been facing some kind of insurmountable disadvantage in their games vs Miami this season, regardless of the scheduling. The actual salient point here is that neither team has faced eachother at full strength yet so the 3 games they've played thusfar can't really tell us much about a potential playoff matchup

[Tacoma]

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.

BKN just lost in BOS, continuing it's downward spiral losing 17 of last 20 games, dropping to tied for 8/9 seed, one game ahead of 10th seed ATL. Ten of Nets' final 17 games are at home which means no Irving. They can't "vault into 7th" from 9th or 10th place.

[bebopdeluxe]

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.

Dude this is weak

Heat were missing Butler, Bam and Herro for their first game vs Philly in Dec

Heat got Philly on the 2nd of a b2b in Jan, a game where Miami was missing Bam

This last meeting was Miami's 3rd game in 4 nights, 4th in 6 (all vs strong EC teams CHI, MIL, BKN and PHI) and Miami was missing Lowry

Philly has hardly been facing some kind of insurmountable disadvantage in their games vs Miami this season, regardless of the scheduling. The actual salient point here is that neither team has faced eachother at full strength yet so the 3 games they've played thusfar can't really tell us much about a potential playoff matchup

Stop. Having to fly 1000+ miles right after a game SUCKS. Period.

And the Sixers didn't have either Harden or Simmons in the January game...remember?

I agree that it will be different in the playoffs - with no back to back games.

[celticfan42487]

What’s all this about DeSEGABABA Diop?

SEGABABA is basically shorthand for having to play back-to-back nights. For example, both Sixers/Heat games in Miami were SEGABABA games for the Sixers - where they had to fly to Miami for a game the night after a home game. I would think that is about as far as NBA teams are made to fly for back-to-back games. Obviously not ideal for the team having to fly in...getting to the hotel by, say 2 or 3AM, and having to play a game 16-17 hours later. For the first game in Miami, the Heat were also on a SEGABABA, but they were home for the Friday night game, which makes it easier, for sure.

For the game on March 21st, it is a SEGABABA for the Sixers, but not for the Heat...although the Sixers are at home on the 20th, so it is a little easier than the games in Miami.

I'm pretty sure I've never once read or seen that type anywhere else other than right now by you lol

Just say on a back to back. That's what it's called for short lol.

[Slacktard]

I'd say they're pretty close. I can't see the Sixers playing Embiid or Harden in every game just to chase after the top seed and not try to have them be as healthy as possible for the playoffs with a game off here and there.

[BenoUdrihFTL]

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.

Dude this is weak

Heat were missing Butler, Bam and Herro for their first game vs Philly in Dec

Heat got Philly on the 2nd of a b2b in Jan, a game where Miami was missing Bam

This last meeting was Miami's 3rd game in 4 nights, 4th in 6 (all vs strong EC teams CHI, MIL, BKN and PHI) and Miami was missing Lowry

Philly has hardly been facing some kind of insurmountable disadvantage in their games vs Miami this season, regardless of the scheduling. The actual salient point here is that neither team has faced eachother at full strength yet so the 3 games they've played thusfar can't really tell us much about a potential playoff matchup

Stop. Having to fly 1000+ miles right after a game SUCKS. Period.

And the Sixers didn't have either Harden or Simmons in the January game...remember?

I agree that it will be different in the playoffs - with no back to back games.

Ok and if we're talking about players who didn't even play a game for their team at that point then we can say Miami didn't have Oladipo for any of the games either lol

If you would just say that we can't take anything away from these RS games because neither team has been at full strength, that would be fine and accurate. But harping on scheduling is weak af when Miami's scheduling wasn't ideal either and the Heat were depleted for every game. I mean, to hand wave a loss to a Heat team missing Butler, Bam, Herro (and Oladipo) with "SEGABABA" is just weird

[bebopdeluxe]

Dude this is weak

Heat were missing Butler, Bam and Herro for their first game vs Philly in Dec

Heat got Philly on the 2nd of a b2b in Jan, a game where Miami was missing Bam

This last meeting was Miami's 3rd game in 4 nights, 4th in 6 (all vs strong EC teams CHI, MIL, BKN and PHI) and Miami was missing Lowry

Philly has hardly been facing some kind of insurmountable disadvantage in their games vs Miami this season, regardless of the scheduling. The actual salient point here is that neither team has faced eachother at full strength yet so the 3 games they've played thusfar can't really tell us much about a potential playoff matchup

Stop. Having to fly 1000+ miles right after a game SUCKS. Period.

And the Sixers didn't have either Harden or Simmons in the January game...remember?

I agree that it will be different in the playoffs - with no back to back games.

Ok and if we're talking about players who didn't even play a game for their team at that point then we can say Miami didn't have Oladipo for any of the games either lol

If you would just say that we can't take anything away from these RS games because neither team has been at full strength, that would be fine and accurate. But harping on scheduling is weak af when Miami's scheduling wasn't ideal either and the Heat were depleted for every game. I mean, to hand wave a loss to a Heat team missing Butler, Bam, Herro (and Olidapio) with "SEGABABA" is just weird

What are you talking about? The game back in January where the Sixers beat the Heat on a Saturday night - after playing on Friday in Philadelphia - Jimmy, Lowry and Herro all played. Bam didn't - but again, neither did either Simmons or Harden,

The Heat's win in Philly earlier in the season was a quality win, no doubt.

My point is it is impossible to know how these two teams match up until both rosters are at full strength, and there are no more back to back games to affect things. We will see.

[kuclas]

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.

Bingo. Health is the most important thing. I actually think there will be a lot of jockeying for the 2 or 3 or 4 seed depending if Brooklyn is in the 8 or 9 position.

If Brooklyn is anywhere need the 7 or 8 seed. I could see teams just resting and trying to slide to the 4 slot.

Anyways. Even if the sixers tried their hardest. Their schedule is way too tough in march. All the second half of their back to back games vs Miami x 2 and Denver. So far they are 0-1 on back to back (last night loss)

Miami is 2 games up in lost column I don’t see more
Than 6 losses for them max. They have 4 guarantee wins vs okc houston Orlando Detroit just looking at it.

So yes. Miami has the 1 seed locked up. But do they really want it.

KD is back. They may lift the ban for kyrie by next month. Simmons should be playing. The last two nets game Vs Miami and Boston have literaly come down to the final minute of the game.

Brooklyn should they make it in is not your normal 8 seed.

[bebopdeluxe]

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.

Bingo. Health is the most important thing. I actually think there will be a lot of jockeying for the 2 or 3 or 4 seed depending if Brooklyn is in the 8 or 9 position.

If Brooklyn is anywhere need the 7 or 8 seed. I could see teams just resting and trying to slide to the 4 slot.

Anyways. Even if the sixers tried their hardest. Their schedule is way too tough in march. All the second half of their back to back games vs Miami x 2 and Denver. So far they are 0-1 on back to back (last night loss)

Miami is 2 games up in lost column I don’t see more
Than 6 losses for them max. They have 4 guarantee wins vs okc houston Orlando Detroit just looking at it.

So yes. Miami has the 1 seed locked up. But do they really want it.

KD is back. They may lift the ban for kyrie by next month. Simmons should be playing. The last two nets game Vs Miami and Boston have literaly come down to the final minute of the game.

Brooklyn should they make it in is not your normal 8 seed.

BKN has, according to Tankathon.com, the 26th easiest remaining schedule...but that is deceiving in that 10 of their last 17 are at home. By contrast, the Hawks have the 29th easiest remaining schedule, including two against the Pistons and Pacers, and games against POR, HOU and OKC. I would think that BRK may need to win something like 11 of their last 17 games to stay ahead of the Hawks. They can certainly do it, but it won't be easy.

[timO]

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

Brooklyn is no longer that looming superteam that scares everyone, they're just another team now. Actually they're a team with massive question marks and liabilities given the Kyrie and Simmons situations. The former won't be able to play home games, the latter will at best be playing himself into game shape/rhythm in the 1st round

But even a fully healthy/available Nets team isn't the type of matchup that poses the biggest problems for Miami. The Heat are vulnerable to strong defensive teams that force them to consistently execute and hit shots in the halfcourt, that's not the Nets

And with all that said, if Brooklyn is indeed a strong team then they'd likely win the 7/8 play-in game and end up the 7th seed anyways

well

no joe harris all year

Irving missing 60 games

Kd missing 30? games

Simmons missing 70 games

Harden playing trash to being traded

its normal nets drop

but at full throtle (covid **** ny dictatorship rules out) they can beat anyone

[Eagle4]

Stop. Having to fly 1000+ miles right after a game SUCKS. Period.

And the Sixers didn't have either Harden or Simmons in the January game...remember?

I agree that it will be different in the playoffs - with no back to back games.

Ok and if we're talking about players who didn't even play a game for their team at that point then we can say Miami didn't have Oladipo for any of the games either lol

If you would just say that we can't take anything away from these RS games because neither team has been at full strength, that would be fine and accurate. But harping on scheduling is weak af when Miami's scheduling wasn't ideal either and the Heat were depleted for every game. I mean, to hand wave a loss to a Heat team missing Butler, Bam, Herro (and Olidapio) with "SEGABABA" is just weird

What are you talking about? The game back in January where the Sixers beat the Heat on a Saturday night - after playing on Friday in Philadelphia - Jimmy, Lowry and Herro all played. Bam didn't - but again, neither did either Simmons or Harden,

The Heat's win in Philly earlier in the season was a quality win, no doubt.

My point is it is impossible to know how these two teams match up until both rosters are at full strength, and there are no more back to back games to affect things. We will see.

People do anything to discredit success. Heat didn't have BAM AND Oladipo, a guy who was literally all nba 3rd pre-covid. Stop this mess about players out, Heat have only had their 4 players play together for 15% of the total season. Which is partly a testament to the best coach in the league Spo but Heat have very underrated depth.