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NBA Power Rankings Week 19: April review and the rising Phoenix Suns

By Corey Rausch

Apr 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

18. Miami Heat

Last Week: Lost to Chicago Bulls 110-102, Beat San Antonio Spurs 116-111, Beat Cleveland Cavaliers 124-107

This Week: 5/2 at Charlotte Hornets, 5/4 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 5/7 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

April continued to show that the Miami Heat may just be what they have been all season. This is not to say what happened in the bubble last season was any sort of fluke. It was a perfect example of how things can work out for a team when everything clicks at the right moment. For this season, the issues with health and shots falling at a sustainable rate have come back to bite the Miami Heat throughout the season.

Over the last month, the Heat ranked 17th in defensive rating (112.3) and 13th in offensive rating (112.9) giving them a barely positive net rating. They are essentially an average team with two stars and a roster that is not clicking all at once around them.

Jimmy Butler is on his playoff form already, averaging 22.5 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. He famously indicated that all the team had to do was get him into the dance, which is about as good as it is going to get for the Heat. The goal should be to bump the Boston Celtics out of the six seed and try to play head games with the Milwaukee Bucks. The goals are much more meager than they were six months ago.