The Miami Heat made an improbable run as the 5-seed out of the Eastern Conference last year, getting all the way to the NBA Finals before falling prey to the Los Angeles Lakers. En route to the Finals, the Heat took out the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Boston Celtics. This year, the Eastern Conference has three clear-cut teams in the top tier: the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and the Bucks. After that, it's one big log jam. Who amongst that second tier of likely playoff teams could make a run to the NBA Finals this year in the East?
Boston Celtics
Boston has been massively underwhelming this season. The Celtics have hovered around the .500 mark for much of the last few weeks and just haven't been able to flip the switch and make a run during the regular season. They added Evan Fournier at the trade deadline but out of the three main Orlando Magic players traded (Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic), Fournier was perhaps the least sought after. Still, he adds a solid 3-point presence to a team that could use more shooting.
The reason Boston could sneak up in the postseason and make a Miami Heat-like run is simple. First, they clearly aren't in the same group as the Nets, 76ers, and Bucks but, they have two All-Stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Both have the ability, especially Tatum, to take over a game in the blink of an eye.
Most were seemingly just waiting for the Celtics to flip the script this year and right the wrongs. The discussion has now turned into whether or not they actually will solve the puzzle in time for the playoffs.
While currently Boston is just fighting to keep a playoff spot, it's hard to imagine the team missing the playoffs altogether. Given the Celtics' track record and who they have on this roster, don't be surprised if Boston makes a run come playoff time.
Miami Heat
Who better to make a Miami Heat-like run from 2020 than the Miami Heat themselves? Last year they were a 5-seed. This year if the get in, the best they can realistically hope for would be a 4-seed. Unless either the 76ers, Bucks, or Nets have a massive collapse, those will be your top three seeds in the East in some sort of order.
Miami has been a snooze fest much of the season. Tyler Herro has regressed, Duncan Robinson hasn't been as efficient, and the Heat have been riding the roller coaster all season as a result of this and other factors. But, come playoff time, there's always a chance they can lay out a successful blueprint.
The big move for Miami at the deadline was acquiring Victor Oladipo. Oladipo hasn't been the same this year at all but he's still a viable name. If you're Miami, you keep your fingers crossed that he's able to regain some sort of his old form.
One thing working for Miami in its favor is the team's mindset. Last year the Heat entered the postseason and nobody really gave them much of a chance. The thought was that it would finally be the year Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks got over the hump in the East. Miami dismantled them in five games. While the East is better this year overall compared to last, Miami won't be phased by anyone. Those sort of vibes and that confidence can carry a team quite a distance in certain circumstances. Don't sleep on the Heat.
Neither of these is a prediction, just to clarify. Going against the likes of the Nets this year alone would seem extremely bold. If not them, going against the Bucks or 76ers to take a team like Miami or Boston would really be stepping out on a limb. Of course, it's possible, but the upper part of the East is far stronger this season than it was last year. But as we found out last year with Miami, anything can happen.
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