Heat Red Hot Heading Towards Playoffs
MIAMI (CBS4) - The Miami Heat head into Monday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks fully in control of their destiny going into the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
After thumping the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the Heat now has the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. All the Heat has to do now is win out against the Atlanta Hawks and the Toronto Raptors, and they are guaranteed the two seed.
The difference in the opponent for the two seed and the three seed in the Eastern Conference is stark. The number two seed in the East will play the Philadelphia 76ers. A good team, but an easy out for a team like the Heat.
The number three seed will face the New York Knicks. The Knicks are hot as of late and having both Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire to get points will only help the Knicks make their first round opponent work really hard to put them away.
After Sunday's game against the Celtics, the Heat stars have really shown why they decided to come together and play for the Heat.
LeBron James is averaging 26.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals per game this season. Dwyane Wade is pouring in 25.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block per game. The final one of the three kings, Chris Bosh, is putting in 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game in 2011.
Combined, the trio is averaging 71 points per game; and when they collectively score north of 75 points, the Heat is nearly impossible to beat.
And, no matter how far the Heat get in the 2011 playoffs; next season, if there is a next season, could be even better for the Heat.
The team will return the Big Three, will get Udonis Haslem back, and will likely keep Mario Chalmers and possibly Mike Bibby, along with one or two other bench players. Plus, they will get their mid-level exception back next season and have a second-round draft pick.
So, Heat guru Pat Riley will be able to sell the franchise again next season to the best players and if the Heat makes it to the NBA Finals or the Eastern Conference Finals, Riley can sell the potential player as being the final piece to the puzzle.
