The Miami Heat's 2020 Bubble Playoff Run Now Looks Like a Fluke

When the final playoff matchups were released, the Milwaukee and Miami series looked like it was set to be one of the best in the first round. However, that has not been the case at all thus far. The Heat came back home down 2-0 in the series and were looking to turn things around on their own hardwood, but got blown out for the second straight game instead. With a 3-0 series deficit, it appears that the defending conference champs won’t even make it out of the first round, let alone win a single game.

INTERESTING FACTS

Miami has recorded their worst PT differential (-63) during a 2-GP span in the playoffs in franchise history
MIA is ranked in the bottom half in: PPG (107.6 – 25th), FG% (46.5% – 18th), and Offensive Efficiency (109.1 – 17th)
Last in PPG of any playoff team during the postseason (96.3) so far

Odds vs. MIL: MIA -105 (Spread +1.5)
MIA Stock Price: $8.99 (via FANDEX)

MAIN TAKEAWAY

THE MIAMI HEAT’S 2020 BUBBLE PLAYOFF RUN NOW LOOKS LIKE A FLUKE

COLORS KEY | FULL HEAT OUTLOOK

Miami hasn’t had a top-level offense all year, and it is hurting them badly in the postseason. In the regular season, they were 25th in PPG, and in the bottom half of the league for offensive efficiency, shooting percentage, and three-point percentage. They’ve also only averaged 96.3 points per game in their first-round series. Jimmy Butler is the team’s leading scorer but clearly needs some more scoring help alongside of him.

The addition of Victor Oladipo will add more buckets and hopefully get them back to where they were in 2020. He was supposed to fill the two-way void left from Jae Crowder who was a huge mid-season addition for the Heat last year, but the Oladipo acquisition backfired once his quadriceps injury got in the way of finishing the 2021 season strong. Even though this year was a far cry from their impressive 2020 bubble run, Miami has all the pieces to make the biggest impact in this upcoming offseason.

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

4-point play from Khris Middleton

Giannis into teeth of the defense.
Giannis no-look pass to Middleton.
Middleton 4-point play. #NBAPlayoffs on TNT pic.twitter.com/U3VnMi9Pen
— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2021