Finals bound?

It's just a coincidence, but it's an interesting one.
The regular seasons of the this year's Heat and last year's PIstons have played out eerily similar so far. Through 21 games (which is when Van Gundy resigned), both teams were 11-10.
Through 45 games, which is where the Heat is right now, both teams were 27-18.
Now, the Pistons were in the middle of winning 13 of 14 games at that time, and by March 1, the Pistons were 36-19 and looking good once again. And we all know where the PIstons ended the season, in the Finals.

That's what the Heat seems has yet to make, that one defining run that gives the team confidence and includes a couple big wins against good teams.
They did it twice last year with two separate double-figure winning streaks.
They currently have an opportunity to do just that. It depends on how fast they get Jason Williams back, and if his finger injury bothers his shooting, but Shaq is starting to look very good, and the schedule is friendly in February.

The Heat has only one set of back-to-backs in February (a home-and-home against Orlando on Feb. 14-15). The team has a big game at Dallas on Feb. 9, but has two days off to get ready for it. The very next game is big, too, at home against Detroit. But again, the team has two days off to prepare for it.
And with a team as old and injury-prone as this one, that always helps.

I'm not predicting a Finals berth for the Heat, because the Pistons are sick right now. I just think the Heat still has a run in them this regular season that will make you say, "Hmm, maybe they can give the Pistons a run."
We'll see.

Comments

[Ari]

Here's the way I see it. The Heat will obviously win their weak division and will wind up as the number two seed. While we haven't looked great this season, especially against good teams, we will be in the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit (unless a rejuvenated Peja can really spark Indy). Detroit has been superior to all this season, but the Heat did play them tough last time on the road. The Heat are not championshib caliber right now, but they don't have to be. We have a few months to figure out how to be Detroit. If we do, we may very well finally see Riley's parade down Biscayne Blvd.

[marcus]

the finals? right now the heat need to make sure they get healthy (j will's knee, wade's ankle, etc.) by april and make sure they have the studs to beat detroit. shaq recently compared antoine walker to robert horry because both can hit threes on command. but there's one bg difference: horry was a stellar defensive player (who started at the power forward on the 95 champion rockets). here's hoping riley starts zo at the 4 to match up with rasheed when they play detroit next. zo was very effective at crowding rasheed in last year's playoffs and is one of the only players who can actually get a hand in rasheed's face on his three pointer attempts. that zo was on the bench at the end of game 7 was unfortunate -- zo can be the key against detroit this year by stifling rasheed, their only low post player. as for walker? it's not too late to trade him for someone who can defend and hit the open three...

[BITO]

hello heat fans, in my opinion lets give walker a chance ,in time for playoffs youllsee him at his best, besides i think hes a key player agaisnt detroit, i think he has to guard sheed, cause walker is quicker than most of our big guys and also sheed ultimately has harm us hitting clucth 3pointers , i think walker can guard sheed 3 pt shot and also walker can take rasheed off the dribble also toine is a 3pt. threat so rasheed has to come out of the paint to guard him , that gives SHAQ more free space to work down low.
LETS GO HEAT

[robert]

The Heat are a mature team, and veterans have been known to conserve their energy during the regular season. That being the case, we shall see what transpires in the playoffs--when the team is going all out, and a has the experience of a full year playing together.

That said, Walker is a worry as are injuries (every time Shaq gets near Jermain O Neal . . .).
Not worried about D Wade though. He looks as smooth as Gayle Sayers out there.

[Henry]

After the Heat's last three games, quality wins over the Rockets, the Clips, and a beat-down of the Cavs, I am taking this post more and more seriously with each passing game.

I think we can beat the Pistons. Just look at Shaq's mobility, Zo's high level, every one is getting healthy and they are playing well together.

A bit more fine tuning on the defense and we are there.