OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings -Griffin buyout shifts ladder at half way mark

Miami Heat:

Week 11: 1-1
Won vs: Pelicans 103-93
Lost to: Hawks 80-94

Week 12 opponents: Magic, @Bulls, @Magic

Offense: (107.7) 25th
Defense: (109.4) 7th
Net: (Minus -1.7) 22nd

This might seem like a strong placement for the Heat but since Jimmy Butler’s return, they are looking much more like the team who represented the East in the NBA Finals.

Although they aren’t favored to replicate that trip this season they are showing signs of why they succeeded last season. Case in point, this club ranked 22nd defensively at the end of week six and has climbed to seventh in four weeks of action.

Isolating on their performance since February the Heat have produced the second-ranked defense in that period.

Pat Riley won’t take the Griffin signing sitting down so expect him to go shopping at the deadline. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo already have the motivation to feast in the second half after both being slighted for the All-Star festivities.

Pound for pound there may not be a grittier, more competitive, tougher duo in the league. And Erik Spoelstra is arguably the best coach at adapting quickly or coming up with the perfect defensive scheme to stop the competition.

By season end, they’ll be in the mix, and like the Raptors won’t be a club any of the top Eastern teams wants to face.