It's probably not the match up many Heat fans envisioned, but it will be a good one nonetheless.
The NBA regular season has wrapped up and the playoffs are set to begin.
A number of Heat fans would have liked to see Miami lose that last game against Toronto and drop to the No. 7 seed, which would have pitted them against a Boston Celtics team without its best player Kyrie Irving, but if you've watched the Heat play this season they just tend to let you down that way.
Another faction of Heat fans had their fingers crossed that maybe we'd finally see a playoff match up against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. It may be time to let that dream go, Heat fans, the powers that be just won't let it happen.
But here's the good news: Miami is back in the playoffs for the first time since LeBron jumped ship in 2014. The Heat have a favorable match up against a team full of young players with little or no playoff experience, which gives them a good shot to make it to the next round.
The caveat: That same young team happens to be the hottest team in the NBA right now.
The Philadelphia 76ers closed the regular season on a 16-game winning streak. That feat is more impressive considering their best player Joel Embiid missed the last couple games with an injury and Philly is still working the 2017 No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz back into the fold. Oh yeah, and the Sixers boast the likely rookie of the year in 6-foot-10-inch point guard Ben Simmons.
But make no mistake Heat fans, this is the playoff match up you want.
Out of the four first round match ups in the Eastern conference Heat vs. Sixers hands down has the most intrigue.
Here's why:
1. The Big Men
In a league dominated by guard play and three-point shooting, all eyes will be watching the big men in this series.
For Miami, it's time for Hassan Whiteside to put up or shut up. The Heat center went on an expletive-filled rant to the media a few weeks back about his lack of minutes and touches. While the beef between Whiteside and Heat staff appears to have been squashed for now, don't think its not in the back of their minds still.
Whiteside will match up against the Philly's all-star center Embiid. The rivalry between the two began in the preseason and only intensified as the season progressed.
For Whiteside, what better way to silence the critics (and prove he's worth that four year, $98 million contract the Heat awarded him in 2016) than to dominate arguably the best center in the league in a seven game playoff series.
2. Who's man is this?
The Heat also have to find answer for Ben Simmons. Lord knows how you stop a 6-foot-10-inch point guard that can basically play all five positions, so good luck Erik Spoelstra. The virtual second coming of Magic Johnson, Simmons is liable to notch a triple-double every game. He can score, pass, rebound and defend, but his only weakness right now is his jump shot, so hopefully the Heat can take advantage.
3. The Wade effect
It's only right that Heat make it back to the playoffs with Dwyane T. Wade Jr. back on the roster. After being exiled from Cleveland, No. 3 returned via trade to his rightful home in "Wade County." Although Wade, 35, isn't the player he once was, his value for this team has been immeasurable. He's still a player that can get you a clutch basket late in the fourth quarter (something the Heat lacked after Dion Waiters' injury) and his playoff experience (did I mention the three rings?) will come in handy in mentoring guys like Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson, James Johnson, and Tyler Johnson, all of whom have little or no playoff experience.
This series could really swing either way. Philly may come out and trounce Miami in four or five games or the Heat may make this a dogfight and drag it out to six or seven games.
My pick: Simmons and Embiid will do damage but Miami has a proven coach and enough veteran leadership (Wade) to give Miami the edge.
Heat in 7
The NBA regular season has wrapped up and the playoffs are set to begin.
A number of Heat fans would have liked to see Miami lose that last game against Toronto and drop to the No. 7 seed, which would have pitted them against a Boston Celtics team without its best player Kyrie Irving, but if you've watched the Heat play this season they just tend to let you down that way.
Another faction of Heat fans had their fingers crossed that maybe we'd finally see a playoff match up against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. It may be time to let that dream go, Heat fans, the powers that be just won't let it happen.
But here's the good news: Miami is back in the playoffs for the first time since LeBron jumped ship in 2014. The Heat have a favorable match up against a team full of young players with little or no playoff experience, which gives them a good shot to make it to the next round.
The caveat: That same young team happens to be the hottest team in the NBA right now.
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| Hassan Whiteside and Joel Embiid continue their rivalry in the first round of the playoffs. |
But make no mistake Heat fans, this is the playoff match up you want.
Out of the four first round match ups in the Eastern conference Heat vs. Sixers hands down has the most intrigue.
Here's why:
1. The Big Men
In a league dominated by guard play and three-point shooting, all eyes will be watching the big men in this series.
For Miami, it's time for Hassan Whiteside to put up or shut up. The Heat center went on an expletive-filled rant to the media a few weeks back about his lack of minutes and touches. While the beef between Whiteside and Heat staff appears to have been squashed for now, don't think its not in the back of their minds still.
Whiteside will match up against the Philly's all-star center Embiid. The rivalry between the two began in the preseason and only intensified as the season progressed.
For Whiteside, what better way to silence the critics (and prove he's worth that four year, $98 million contract the Heat awarded him in 2016) than to dominate arguably the best center in the league in a seven game playoff series.
2. Who's man is this?
The Heat also have to find answer for Ben Simmons. Lord knows how you stop a 6-foot-10-inch point guard that can basically play all five positions, so good luck Erik Spoelstra. The virtual second coming of Magic Johnson, Simmons is liable to notch a triple-double every game. He can score, pass, rebound and defend, but his only weakness right now is his jump shot, so hopefully the Heat can take advantage.
3. The Wade effect
It's only right that Heat make it back to the playoffs with Dwyane T. Wade Jr. back on the roster. After being exiled from Cleveland, No. 3 returned via trade to his rightful home in "Wade County." Although Wade, 35, isn't the player he once was, his value for this team has been immeasurable. He's still a player that can get you a clutch basket late in the fourth quarter (something the Heat lacked after Dion Waiters' injury) and his playoff experience (did I mention the three rings?) will come in handy in mentoring guys like Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson, James Johnson, and Tyler Johnson, all of whom have little or no playoff experience.
This series could really swing either way. Philly may come out and trounce Miami in four or five games or the Heat may make this a dogfight and drag it out to six or seven games.
My pick: Simmons and Embiid will do damage but Miami has a proven coach and enough veteran leadership (Wade) to give Miami the edge.
Heat in 7
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