The lineup of the Eastern Conference seems to be changing every single day but, for now, the Miami Heat are currently the champs of the East.
The Heat struggled greatly last year and didn’t make it far in the playoffs, but things look very different this season.
The Miami Heat are first place in the Eastern Conference #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/LB4czYEQzR
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) January 24, 2022
In fact, there is good reason to believe the Heat could stay strong and make it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals again – they could even take down their opponents and head to the NBA Finals.
Yes, the Heat are on fire again – but what gives?
What’s changed in less than a season to make them such a force in the league?
3. The Heat Are Deep
Miami is filled with some wildly talented NBA players.
Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro – these are just some of the guys who are giving it their all in South Beach.
The depth of the roster is what makes the team so dangerous.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra has multiple players he can lean on and his offensive and defensive game works perfectly with all of them.
All of these guys understand their assignments and they are all very reliable and consistent when it comes to bringing the, well, heat no matter who they are playing with and playing against.
2. Bam!
Miami big man Bam Adebayo missed nearly two months of play with his team but he’s back now and they are very happy to see him.
Since returning to the Heat, Adebayo is averaging 17.3 points, 4 assists, and 8.5 rebounds a game.
He’s a huge difference-maker for the team and is really making his presence known on the floor.
TIME TO PUSH THE AGENDA AGAIN #BAMDPOY pic.twitter.com/eILUEk7Mq0
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 24, 2022
Whether he’s putting his all into attaining rebounds (he racked up a triple-double on January 19) or finding someone to toss the ball to, Adebayo is doing some serious work.
His field goal percentage right now is 53.2 – that number may drop the more he plays but Adebayo is currently playing some incredible basketball.
1. Bad Luck Is Good Luck
While the Heat are legitimately doing wonderful work, you cannot ignore the fact that other teams in the East are currently going through some growing pains.
The Brooklyn Nets are currently without Kevin Durant (and Kyrie Irving half the time) and are trying to find their footing.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have been losing more than regular and are experiencing their own slew of injuries that are setting them back.
All of this is happening while the Heat are coming together and working like a charm.
As the road has gotten increasingly rockier for those other top teams, it’s gotten much smoother for the Heat.
It won’t stay this way forever, the Nets and Bulls will most likely find their way and their injured players will return.
But the Heat are taking great advantage of this tumultuous period for their opponents and are tweaking, enhancing, and perfecting their game while the others are trying to get it together.
Who knows how the Eastern Conference will look in just a few days let alone a few weeks.
However, right now the Heat are definitely the ones to beat.
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