O'Neal brought the Heat the first championship in team history in 2006, and he often pays attention to his old club, but today's O'Neal's words may make the Heat fans less useful. According to Heavy, O'Neal believes the Heat will go far in the playoffs this year, but he asserts that this season does not belong to the Heat.
Recently, the Heat once topped the Eastern Conference, but after suffering three consecutive defeats in the recent past, the 32-20 Heat were once again overtaken by the Bulls and fell to second in the Eastern Region. Along the way throughout the season, the Heat have suffered frequent injuries and outbreaks, and have not been able to exert their full strength.
So, what is the fate of this year's Heat's playoffs? In this regard, O'Neill said in an interview that returning to the Finals may be a more difficult task for the Heat today. "I'm sure the Heat will make the playoffs this year and will go a long way," O'Neal said, "but this year it's not theirs." ”
In 2020, the Heat became the dark horse of the East Side, reaching the Finals all the way. But the 2020-21 Heat slipped, and the Bucks successfully avenged it 4-0 in the first round. In the 2021 offseason, the Heat brought in Lowry, Maurice and Tucker, and Oladipo is also close to a comeback recently, which can be described as the peak of the lineup. So far this season, the Heat's offensive efficiency is 6th in the league, and its defensive efficiency is 8th, which can be described as an even balance between attack and defense.
However, after the opening season, the Heat was also a frequent problem, with injuries and epidemics having a great impact, and the rise in Hero's performance was also offset by the decline of Duncan Robinson. In addition, Jimmy Butler, Adebayo and Lowry have all been absent for a long time, and the eldest Maurice has not returned after being hit by Jokic. Instead, a group of players who lost the draft and two-way contracts took the opportunity to play a momentum, which made people sigh at the heat's provocative vision and cultivation methods.
Today, the Nets' problems in the East Side are increasingly exposed, with the 76ers in a disorganized lineup, the Bulls limited by injuries, and the team's playoff prospects remain in doubt. At present, the East Side can still pose a threat to the Heat, their old rival Bucks.
Today's Heat are a team that's hard to predict because they're never able to play their best. Was O'Neill's prophecy accurate? (Supine Braces/Hairy)