Power-ranking the 10 biggest challengers to the Lakers in 2020-21

8. Miami Heat

This feels insultingly low for the reigning Eastern Conference champs, and it’s not meant to minimize the Miami Heat’s incredible Finals run. But with Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder hitting free agency, Jimmy Butler getting another year older and the 2020-21 season hopefully returning closer to normalcy, it’s hard to see Miami duplicating it.

The Heat shouldn’t be counted out among the Eastern contenders, but the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors — both of whom were favored to reach the Finals ahead of Miami — have enough youth to still be on an upward trajectory. The Bucks are still monsters (provided Mike Budenholzer actually plays his two best players more than 35 minutes in do-or-die playoff games). And the Brooklyn Nets will be getting their two best players back healthy next time around.

The Heat’s feel-good rampage through the East was not a fluke; everyone in this year’s playoffs had to play under the same set of circumstances. But in a more normal playoff environment (maybe even with something resembling home-court advantage?), it’s hard to envision teams like the Bucks, Raptors and Celtics all coming up short again.