8. Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are already in the eighth playoff spot and again, unless anything drastic happens, they should be a lock for this spot by season’s end. Miami currently has a 37-33 record and its biggest concern is their lack of offense. The Heat are a solid defensive team, which could give the No. 1 seed fits, but they rank 27th this season in points per game (102.5).
Point guard Goran Dragic made it to this year’s All-Star game, but he’s been all the Heat’s offense this season. Big man Hassan Whiteside is averaging 14.3 points and 11.8 rebounds but his lack of an impact deemed it necessary for the Heat to re-acquire Dwayne Wade prior to the NBA Trade Deadline.
The Heat were dealt a huge blow when they lost shooting guard Dion Waiters after 30 appearances in 2017-18. Waiters was averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds before going down with an injury.
Wade is averaging 13.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists since rejoining his old club. Miami is 8-11 since going 10-5 in the month of January. They are 5-4 as March is coming to an end, so it’s hard to predict a late surge of losses for them.