Hoops Habit
Fansided

Playing ‘Contender or Pretender’ With Eastern Conference Playoff Teams

By Jon Shames

Nov 22, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) defends in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) defends in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives to the basket against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 129-111. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives to the basket against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 129-111. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Miami Heat – 4th seed

The Miami Heat have been a tremendous defensive team this year, but have been predictably awful on the offensive end. The Heat rank 23rd in offensive efficiency and 26th in points per game. Though the team is 8-2 without Chris Bosh (who may or may not miss the rest of the season), the fast-paced offense they’ve been employing isn’t typically a viable option in the playoffs.

Dwyane Wade has really stepped up in Bosh’s absence, averaging 22.8 points and 5.0 assists per game during the 10-contest stretch. He’s been having an All-Star-caliber year, and is still quite capable of being a featured scorer for his Miami team, even at 34 years old.

The addition of Joe Johnson, another effective playmaker and scorer in the backcourt, makes Miami a promising dark-horse team in the East.

Still, the Heat only score 17.6 points from downtown per game, a mark that places them 28th in the NBA. If the Heat match up against Atlanta in the first round, it’s hard to see them keeping up with the Hawks’ scoring output; Mike Budenholzer’s squad has too many options on offense.

In the playoffs, the Heat will be forced to execute in halfcourt sets as the pace of the game slows. Such has been Miami’s downfall thus far.

Verdict: Pretender

Prediction: First-round loss vs. Atlanta (4-2)

Next: Boston Celtics