The Miami Heat recently put on a clinical display during a 98-95 win against the Boston Celtics. The Heat, in the absence of an injured Jimmy Butler, managed to defeat the Eastern Conference leaders Celtics with an impressive 30-point performance from Bam Adebayo. However, the chances of Miami making it to the playoffs seemed quite tricky to Shaquille O’Neal. Recently, the Los Angeles Lakers legend put forward a baffling Giannis Antetokounmpo-Kevin Durant question while talking about Miami’s hopes of making it to the playoffs this season.
The Eastern Conference looks quite competitive this season, with the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers leading the way, while the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets have also shown some strong performances. Thus, the Miami Heat would have to do much better in the second half than their first-half record of 27-22. Recently, Shaquille O’Neal laid out the difficulties the Heat could face even if they make the playoffs this season.
Shaquille O’Neal feels Miami is in a tough spot
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Shaquille O’Neal joined co-hosts Adam Lefkoe and Candace Parker on TNT’s Tuesday’s Postgame Show. The panel talked about the Miami Heat’s chances of making it to the playoffs following their impressive victory against the Boston Celtics, who missed Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown from the roster. Moreover, the host Lefkoe pointed out that Kevin Durant was looking to return to the court following his MCL sprain injury during the All-Star game.
Meanwhile, Shaquille O’Neal gave his massive opinion on the Miami Heat’s playoff chances by pointing out Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets and Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s Milwaukee Bucks as the franchise’s biggest roadblocks. During the Tuesday’s Postgame show, Shaq stated, “The Heat are in a tricky position. Let’s just go with the theme that the playoffs start today. They will face Milwaukee. Now let’s say they move up a spot. Now you gonna face the Brooklyn Nets. What are you gonna do?”
?The Big Diesel added,?“Of course you don’t wanna go down and be in the playin game. So they’re probably gonna have to put together a string of wins. You don’t wanna play either of those teams in the first round, definitely.”
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The Miami Heat are currently sixth in the Eastern conference table. If they continue to stay in the same position, they are likely to face Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant‘s team. Thus, Shaquille O’Neal felt that the Heat was in a complicated situation currently. Shaq suggested that the Heat would have to work on getting more consistent wins in the second half to get in a better position in the future. Luckily for the Heat, their recent performance could be the start of something interesting this season.
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Heat beat Celtics in a low-scoring encounter
The Miami Heat ended the first quarter with 32 points as they built a two-point lead. However, the Jayson Tatum-led Celtics made a good comeback in the second half to take an eight-point lead. After a balanced third quarter, the Heat came all guns blazing and swept the finals quarter with a 23-13 margin to win the game by 98-95.
Miami won their seventh game in the last ten encounters as a result of a dominating performance from Bam Adebayo. The 2020 All-Star scored 30 points with 15 rebounds and an assist to lead the Heat to a satisfying victory against Boston.
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Thus, with Jimmy Butler’s return to the side, the Heat could make a strong case for the playoffs this season. What do you think of Miami’s chances of making it to the playoffs? Let us know in the comments below!
