Play-In teams aren’t expected to make a ton of noise in the playoffs. But a Miami Heat Play-In team? Well, at first glance, you probably still wouldn’t expect them to do much of anything. But the Heat are the best Play-In team in the tournament and have a chance to be the best Play-In team ever in the tournament’s short history.
Don’t get it twisted, they could very well lose to the Milwaukee Bucks or Boston Celtics in short fashion or even miss the playoffs entirely. But the Heat have some quality experienced players that are getting hot at the right time. Of course, it all starts with Jimmy Butler. He’s averaging 25.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game on an efficient 61 percent shooting since the All-Star break. There are 23 players averaging over 25 points per game and only two are shooting over 60 percent, Butler and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Add in the fact that Tyler Herro has been hitting his shots as of late as well and Bam Adebayo playing solid ball, that’s a big three getting hot at the right time. They of course have their own problems. Overall, as a team, they are very poor at shooting outside the arc and don’t rebound very well. While they’ve picked up their offense in the second half of the season, their defense has fallen off after trading for Kevin Love. But there is one key, fundamental way they will beat you.
The Heat are second in free throw percentage at 83.1 percent. They are third to last in total fouls given per game at 18.5. They will drag and trudge the game along by going to the line and won’t allow the opposing side such luxury. It is a strategy that is very much against the grain from the current NBA trends. But for them, it works. Erik Spoelstra leads a savy, surging veteran team once again and no one should be looking past them.
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