The Heat peaking at the right time
The race for the top spot in the East became a free-for-all when the Heat suddenly found themselves in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Just when the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics were playing some of their best basketball, the Heat stumbled. But all that seems to be a thing of the past.
The Heat (50-28) have regained their hold of the No. 1 seed after winning their last three games. They won over the Sacramento Kings, followed by a morale-boosting victory over the Celtics, before taking the 127-109 decision over the Chicago Bulls in their previous outing. They’re peaking at the most opportune time with their rivals right on their heels.
Are the Heat ready for the grueling postseason? All signs show they might be in for a deep playoff run, especially with the roster’s clean bill of health. Through all the injuries and setbacks, Miami finally has a deep versatile lineup that can compete against the top teams. They may not have the star power of a Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, or James Harden, but they do have enough to make another run at the NBA Finals.
The Raptors' surge continues
As the Heat have stabilized as the No. 1 seed, the Raptors (45-32) now find themselves right in the thick of things, sitting at the fifth spot. They are on a five-game win streak and just like the Heat, they have been playing exceptional basketball as of late.
In those last five games, the wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Celtics are the ones that can give the Raptors confidence heading into the playoffs. Their matchup against the best team in the East can help them gauge how well they are playing with only five games left on their schedule.
One of the strengths of the Raptors’ roster has been their length and versatility. Their starting lineup of Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, and Pascal Siakam have wreaked havoc against opponents. Not to mention, they have Chris Boucher and Precious Achiuwa coming off the bench. Siakam is their leading scorer with 22.3 points but it’s their balanced scoring that has led them into the fifth seed.
How do the Raptors plan to contain Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and the rest of the Heat? Look for how well they plan for Miami’s penetration and scoring. As Butler and Adebayo suck the defense, shooters Tyler Herro, Gabe Vincent, and Duncan Robinson are always ready to pull the trigger from deep. It’ll be interesting to see how the long arms of Barnes, Anunoby, and Siakam can cover ground against the Heat’s offense.
The return of Kyle Lowry
Monday’s game also features the return of Kyle Lowry to Toronto for the first team since signing with the Heat. The veteran point guard spent the majority of his career playing for the Raptors, including their title-winning run in 2019. We can expect a tribute video and some emotional moments as the Raptors crowd welcomes Lowry back to their arena.
