Honest question...

Do you think the Heat would make the playoffs if it were in the Western conference? I don't particularly like them but I wanted them to be successful just to see what would end up happening...

But they're barely playing .500 ball right now, and as recent years show, .500 ball doesn't get you into the playoffs in the West. I think they're going to get it together eventually, just interested to hear others thoughts.

yep, as a 6 seed or so. they'll move up in the east to 3 or 4

Good question that might be worth looking at when the season is over.

Right now they are 2-4 vs. teams from the West and 7-4 for teams from the East.

I thought they would ring up 65 wins in the regular season then get pounded in a humiliating second-round exit.

I still think they get beaten badly by the first 1-3 seed they play, but they at this rate they might have to play Boston or Orlando in the first round.

Boston and Orlando are the absolute worst match-ups for the Heat. Sometimes, I'll watch the interior play of the Heat and start to feel bad. And then I remember that they're the Miami Heat and I hate them.

I think they'll be hovering close to .500 at the all-star break, but will finish strong down the stretch and be a dangerous team in the playoffs... but ultimately will bow out.

As for your making the playoffs in the West question -- I think they'd make it as a 6 or lower seed.

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I thought they would ring up 65 wins in the regular season

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Why? They have no center, no point guard, and no bench. Queen James and DWade can only take them so far.

The Heat would make the playoffs in either conference but they won't appear in the finals.

With their talent, they'll probably make a run at some point, and the national media will claim they "finally found their rhythm", but then they'll fall flat on their face in the playoffs just like all of 'brons teams do.

They're good, just not great. Pretty much sums up every team 'brons ever played on.

[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 11/29/2010 4:11p).]

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Why? They have no center, no point guard, and no bench. Queen James and DWade can only take them so far.

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That's why I think they will get crushed in the playoffs. I figured they would pull a 06-07 Mavs or D'Antoni Suns-type season: play a lot harder earlier in the season and teams don't drastically alter their gameplans to exploit the Heat's weaknesses... until the playoffs. Then the first team that deserves a spot in the playoffs whips them soundly.

The biggest reason the Heat won't succeed in the playoffs is that the 3 teams they have to go through are a really bad matchup disadvantage for them. They will have no answers for Dwight Howard and Orlando in a full series. Then, if they somehow make it out of that, they will have no answers for the Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics. Then, if they somehow make it out of that, the front court of the Lakers will absolutely abuse them.

Miami is 14-8. LA is 14-6. Miami is dependent upon three players who have never played together before a couple months ago. I am not at all surprised that they have (somewhat) struggled early. Nonetheless, barring injury, they will be the best team in the NBA come playoff time.

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barring injury, they will be the best team in the NBA come playoff time

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They may have the best record, I'll give you that. But they are nowhere near being a great NBA team. The Lakers are great. The Celtics are pretty darn good. The Spurs/Mavs/Magic are definite contenders.

The Heat are a circus act devoid of chemistry or effective player leadership. Pretty amazing the number of people in this world that don't realize those things are actually more important than your stockpile of all-stars.

This team has Haslem out and will still get Miller back for the second half.