Q: Ira, let’s play the play-in game. In order, who would the Heat least want to play in the play-in round. Go. – Hal.
A: OK, I’ll bite, with the play-in field in the East basically set, in some order, with the Hawks, Magic, Bulls and Heat, and with the Heat likely having to go 2-0 to advance to the playoffs (with the Heat’s chances against the Cavaliers another story for another day, if that even needs to be addressed). I think Orlando would be the toughest opponent of those three for the Heat, based on Paolo Banchero’s recent breakout play. No team is as suited to play the Heat’s grind game as the defensively superior Magic. A problem is that yet could become the Heat’s opening matchup in the Nos. 9-10 win-or-go-home game. From there, the Bulls seemingly would set up next toughest, based not only on 2-0 against the Heat this season, including the recent victory at Kaseya Center, but also their hot play to close the season (Monday night’s blowout loss to the Thunder notwithstanding). That’s not to necessarily downplay the Hawks, just that they seem the most uneven of the three potential opponents. Bottom line is all three have shown the ability to win against this Heat roster. Getting to the playoffs will be a gauntlet for the Heat.
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Q: Miami has been soft tanking since trading Jimmy Butler. – Kelly.
A: No, the Heat haven’t. Soft tanking means quietly holding out players who don’t necessarily need to be held out. The Heat not only haven’t been doing that, but rather refused to immediately rule out Andrew Wiggins for the trip and then waited as long as possible to see if Davion Mitchell could go on Monday night in Washington. The other, newer element of soft tanking is pulling leading players late in close games. If anything, even on Monday the Heat did the opposite, playing Tyler Herro more than halfway into the fourth quarter of what surely seemed to already be decided.
Q: They will hurt a lottery pick for nothing. – Ivan.
A: Possibly. But, again, if the Heat can avoid the lottery (by making the playoffs), they will not have to definitively pass along unprotected first-round picks in 2026 and ’28. And, as it is, they still will most likely get a Warriors pick this June.
