NBA: The 8 Eastern Conference Teams Making The Playoffs
6. Miami Heat (48-34)
This was a tough one. The Miami Heat could finish fourth or they may finish as low as seventh. It all depends on Dwyane Wade’s knees and how the team reacts when the regular season starts and LeBron James is not there to cover up some of their deficiencies. They can say all they want in the preseason, but once the games start and they cannot go to the best player on the planet, they will feel the difference.
Will there be a “maintenance program” for Wade this season? Even though Chris Bosh has a max contract, this team is Wade’s once again. Ultimately, the Heat will go as far as his knees take them.
Speaking of Bosh, he got what he wanted. He is getting paid like the man, so now he has to play like the man. He heard the jokes like the Heat had two and a half men, and he did not like it. Of the big three, Bosh had to sacrifice the most to help the team. Now is his chance to show the people in South Beach what he could do.
The Heat picked up Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger through free agency, but Deng may be on his last legs, Granger is a shadow of his former self and McRoberts is already missing the entire preseason with a toe injury. If two of those guys can actually come through, the Heat may surprise. If not, it will be a long winter in Miami. At least they are in Miami, right?
5. Toronto Raptors (49-33)
How crazy would it have been to say that five seasons after the Raptors lost Chris Bosh they would finish ahead of his new team? Well, that is what may happen this season.
The young Raptors got their first playoffs under their belts, and it was a memorable seven game war against the Nets. They lost, yes, but they gained experience.
Unfortunately for them, the Raptors will need more experience. They are on the right track, but they are still too inexperienced. Kyle Lowry did make a commitment to Toronto, but give DeMar DeRozan, Terrance Ross and Jonas Valanciunas another year to develop and we may talk.
Even with their inexperience, they have some good athletic players. They will be a fun team to watch. They may be spunky enough to get past the first round of the playoffs. This is a team to watch in the future.