Miami Heat vs Phoenix Suns The pursuit for the eighth playoff spot

Alvin Gentry wasn't in any way shape or form shocked to see Goran Dragic in a Heat uniform on Wednesday night Tickets .

"I guided him for a long time in Phoenix," New Orleans' mentor said of the Heat's beginning stage protect, who missed Sunday's amusement in Indiana with cartoonish swelling in his correct eye in the wake of being elbowed by the Raptors' Cory Joseph on Saturday night Heat topple Pelicans 120-112 with fourth quarter blitz . "He's one of the hardest folks in the association."

The Heat's little extreme person didn't simply put on a uniform. He balled out. Prior this season, the race for the eighth seed in the West was a touch of a shame. Where there has for the most part been a group of in addition to .500 groups vieing for the last playoff spot, rather there were a cluster of baffling groups stumbling over themselves. It seemed as though one of the numerous unsuitable groups - possibly the Sacramento Kings! would be remunerated with the opportunity to get cleared by the Golden State Warriors in the first round, leaving fans to contemplate regardless of whether a couple diversions in late April were superior to anything a lottery pick.

With the postseason only four weeks away, much has changed. Not just have the Kings dropped good and gone and the San Antonio Spurs rose as a conceivable, maybe even likely first-round adversary for the eighth seed, the groups that are engaging for it are all of a sudden able.

The Denver Nuggets have a main five offense. The Portland Trail Blazers are re-empowered in the wake of getting Nurkic fever. Minnesota Timberwolves resemble a Tom Thibodeau group. Despite seemingly insurmountable opposition, the Dallas Mavericks are tenth in net rating since tumbling to 4-17 with a 31-direct misfortune toward Sacramento in December, the best turnaround this side of Miami ASK IRA: Playoffs? Heat talking playoffs! Maybe or maybe not .

Prior this season, the race for the eighth seed in the West was a touch of a humiliation. Where there has as a rule been a group of in addition to .500 groups vieing for the last playoff spot, rather there were a cluster of baffling groups stumbling over themselves. It seemed as though one of the numerous unacceptable groups - perhaps the Sacramento Kings! - would be compensated with the opportunity to get cleared by the Golden State Warriors in the first round, leaving fans to consider regardless of whether a couple recreations in late April were superior to anything a lottery pick.

With the postseason only four weeks away, much has changed. Not just have the Kings dropped good and gone and the San Antonio Spurs rose as a conceivable, maybe even likely first-round adversary for the eighth seed, the groups that are fighting for it are all of a sudden skilled. The Denver Nuggets have a main five offense. The Portland Trail Blazers are re-invigorated in the wake of getting Nurkic fever. Minnesota Timberwolves resemble a Tom Thibodeau group. Despite seemingly insurmountable opposition, the Dallas Mavericks are tenth in net rating since tumbling to 4-17 with a 31-guide misfortune toward Sacramento in December, the best turnaround this side of Miami.




Bulls 95 - HEAT 107 Game Recap and Infographic


Bulls 95 - HEAT 107 Game Recap and Infographic


New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat - March 15, 2017