OKC Thunder: Dissecting 16 playoff seeds and 4 WC team records

Miami Heat:

• 65 games played (41-24)
• Record versus seeded teams: 33 occasions (20-13)
• Record versus lottery teams: 32 occasions (21-11).
• Home record (27-5)
• Road record: (14-19)
• Back to back sets: 10 played (12-8)
  • five sets with both teams seeded (7-3)
  • three with one seed/one lottery seed (3-3)
  • two with both teams in the lottery (2-2)

The Heat are an intriguing club who could be a dark horse to go deep in postseason play. Alternatively, Miami’s weakness was finding wins on the road and since all these games will be played on the road it could mean they’ll be an easier opponent. Part of the reason the Heat wasn’t as effective on the road is the number of youngsters on the squad who are core contributors such as Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, and Tyler Herro all who are more comfortable at home.

The other area that might have an adverse effect on the Heat when the league returns are the number of days off between games. Jimmy Butler is the unquestioned leader of the club but if there is only a single day off between games it could affect his effectiveness (given his injury history with his knees) particularly if the league elects to use the typical best of seven playoff series.

The Heat sits in fourth in the East with a two-game edge over the Pacers and 76ers. They are seeded eighth overall which would equate to an OKC Thunder first-round pairing if the NBA jumped directly into the playoffs without any further games.

Conversely, if regular-season games are played the Thunder and Rockets will take direct aim at the Heat as they both trail Miami by a half-game.