NBA Power Rankings: Playoff Edition

(48-34). Previous: . Miami Heat. 9. team. 110. <p>A lot of people are very high on the prospect of the Miami Heat making a run in this year’s NBA Playoffs. I am not one of those people.</p> <p>That isn’t a shot at this team overall, as Miami has actually outplayed any reasonable projection by racking up 48 wins despite the lengthy absence of the team’s best player in Chris Bosh. However, Bosh remains on the shelf with no apparent return in sight, and even with the addition of Joe Johnson, it would be a tough sell to tell me this is a legitimate Eastern Conference contender.</p> <p>Erik Spoelstra has certainly done yeoman’s work with this group, especially with the decision to go small and emphasize pace with Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson and others. In the playoffs, though, Dwyane Wade will likely play a larger role, and even with the advancement of Hassan Whiteside (who is the league’s top shot-blocker), the Heat don’t stack up particularly well on a position-by-position basis.</p> <p>I recognize that I am lower on Miami than most, but without Bosh, I just don’t see it at this level and it would not shock me in the slightest if the Heat were upended by the Hornets in round one.</p>