Q: The Magic and Hawks still play each other twice. The Heat definitely still have a path to the No. 7 or No. 8 spot. – Lando.
A: I would think No. 8 would be more likely, only because for the Heat to move up, the best path would be for either Atlanta or Orlando to sweep those two games. That, in turn, also would give one of those two the tiebreaker over the Heat. So, yes, still a chance for two chances to advance out of the play-in as a No. 8 in the play-in. But also two challenging home games upcoming for the Heat against the Grizzlies on Thursday and Bucks on Saturday, as well as next week in Chicago. Beyond those head-to-head Hawks-Magic matchups, Atlanta has remaining the Knicks, Jazz, Nets, 76ers, and Orlando has remaining the Wizards, Celtics and Pacers. It is possible that Magic at Hawks on the final day of the regular season could determine the Heat’s play-in seed, a day when the Heat host the Wizards.
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Q: How do the Heat keep winning with this lineup? It defies logic. – Peter, Sunrise.
A: Culture? Or, more to the point, they weren’t as bad as the record when they were losing and they certainly have largely had the right schedule at the right time when they’re now winning (including opponents missing key players, such as three Celtics rotation players on Wednesday night). What this has shown is that if you surround Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro with the right players, and if you let Erik Spoelstra coach ’em up, good things can happen. But also appreciate this is a time of year when there are ample disinterested opponents. Still, six in a row is nothing to scoff at. If the Heat could have had a clean restart from the Jimmy Butler Era, the record likely never would have dipped to these depths. This can be a good team. A great team? That would be a stretch, even with these wins. Or, perhaps, it’s just culture.
Q: Can you clarify the Heat’s draft situation ? – Brian.
A: Sure, if the Heat don’t make the playoffs (eliminated in the play-in round) then they keep their lottery pick this June, no matter where it falls. From there, their 2026 first-round pick goes unprotected to the Thunder (to complete the 2019 trade for Jimmy Butler, oh the irony) and their 2028 first-round pick goes unprotected to the Hornets (to complete last year’s trade for Terry Rozier). If the Heat make the playoffs, then their first-round pick goes to the Thunder in June, completing that obligation. From there, they would owe the Hornets either a lottery-protected (Nos. 1-14) pick in 2027 or an unprotected pick in 2028. In addition, the Heat get the Warriors’ first-round pick this June from that Butler trade unless it is in the top 10.
