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| LeBron James and the Miami Heat need the top seed in the playoffs. Photo credit NBA |
Hindsight, however, is 20-20 as they say. The Heat took possessive control of the Eastern Conference last year to solidify the #1 seed when the playoffs rolled around. The closest competition, New York Knicks, were 12 games behind them. The truth is 9-3 is only good for second place currently, and the team is first does not want to give up their spot or lose home court advantage.
As mentioned before, the Heat ran away with the regular season last year by winning 63 games. The home court advantage the held throughout the playoffs was pivotal for them to win the championship. No Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs in The Finals at home and who knows what may have happened. You could argue no Game 6 at home may have ended their season early.
The Spurs response this season was to come out guns blazing at 11-1 with all intentions set on getting the #1 seed. They see it has the best way to beat the Heat if they should meet again in The Finals. Last season coach Popovich rested players throughout the season and held the #2 seed in the West, but now he realizes the window is barely open for his stars to get it done again. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker will not be playing together much longer. Many believe had they won the championship Duncan and Ginobili would have both retired.
The Indiana Pacers feel the same way. If we had home court advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals we would have played the Spurs. It is hard not to agree with them when they stretched their series to seven games with the Heat. Their postseason record at home was 8-1. Their only lost at home was to the Miami Heat in Game 6. They, like the Spurs, are determined to secure the top seed to give them an advantage over their rivals in the postseason.
I am not calling the Heat lazy or not focused on winning it again. The fact remains that health is an issue for this team in the early stages. Only 4-of-14 players on the roster have played in all 12 games this season.
All three losses this season have been against conference opponents which does not help seeding come playoff time.
It is very early in the season to talk about playoffs, but when earning a top seed is the differnce in winning the chip it must be addressed early. Both the Pacers and the Spurs are the most equipped teams to challenge the Heat.
The wild card in the equation is the new Finals format of 2-2-1-1-1. Having both Game 6 and Game 7 at home gave teams a huge advantage. I expect more Finals series to go seven games now and home court means everything. If a west coast team makes it to The Finals could you imagine the Heat having to fly back and forth, then play the final game away?
They are currently on a hot streak winning five in a row.
This is not time to panic, but they need to get hot and stay hot to increase their chances to three-peat.
Follow Rodney on Twitter @RodneyFisherNBA
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