Stephen A. Smith: Heat vulnerable to Nets or Raptors in first round
Prior to the Brooklyn Nets’ 110-95 win over the Miami Heat, there’s been much speculation about their chances of taking down the previously top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference in a first-round playoff series.
On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith went as far to say that if either the Nets or Toronto Raptors were to face the Heat in the playoffs, Miami could end up having their playoff run ended early. Smith’s comments came after the Heat’s 118-104 loss to the short-handed Golden State Warriors.
“If the seventh and eighth seed truly ends up being Brooklyn and Toronto, Miami will face one of them,” Smith said. “And both of those teams could beat Miami if they show up and Miami does not.”
As a result of a four-game losing streak, the Heat found themselves getting bumped off the first spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Now, they hold just a half-game lead over both the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks.
If the Heat fails to turn thing around in a hurry, Miami could end up sliding all the way down to fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. If that was to occur, they could end up having to face the Chicago Bulls or Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs.
Prior to the start of Sunday’s NBA action, no team in the league is currently on a bigger losing streak than the Heat. Since the All-Star break, the Heat has gone 9-7 in 16 games with a 112.8 offensive rating (18th), a 110.8 defensive rating (6th), and a 2.0 net rating (14th).
The lack of scoring efficiency from the Heat has proved to be costly and only seems to be worsening. There are plenty of teams in the Eastern Conference, including the Nets, that are trending in the right direction at the right time while Miami’s best basketball has been behind them.
