Miami Heat: 3 things to look out for during the team’s playoff push

There’s only 16 regular season games left to go in the Miami Heat’s 2018-19 run, with the team looking to clinch an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Somehow it’s already March 10, 2019, and another round of NBA playoff basketball is slowly creeping in on us.

Although the first round of games aren’t slated to begin until April 13, a few things have been very much set in stone for a while now.

For example, the Cleveland Cavaliers never had any chance at a postseason this year, after LeBron James took off for Hollywood. Similarly, the Phoenix Suns are still neck-deep in a rebuild that doesn’t include a playoff appearance, despite Devin Booker continuing to shine.

At 50-16, the Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the Eastern Conference, and are likely going to dominate come spring. While the Denver Nuggets, who are just 1.5 games back of the Golden State Warriors, are gunning for top the Western Conference.

But there are some narratives that haven’t yet fully unfolded.

Take the Los Angeles Lakers, who currently sit at 11th in the West. It’s certainly hard to imagine a world in which James’ season gets cut short, but it’s looking more and more like a possibility. Then there’s the Charlotte Hornets, who are trying to find their way back into the top eight too, with their 30-36 record placing them 10th.

Which brings forth the Miami Heat, whose year has been nothing short of turbulent.

Currently 31-35, the team sits eighth in the East,  but isn’t sure to be there 16 games from now. Between matchups against the Bucks and New York Knicks coming up, what will happen is anyone’s guess.

However, there are three things fans should keep their eyes on.