Heat Facing ‘Gauntlet’ As Race To Avoid Play-In Tightens

The Heat have made it clear they want no part of the play-in tournament this year.

Whether they can avoid it remains the question, writes Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

Miami entered the week seventh in the Eastern Conference standings at 38-30, just outside the top six and therefore still in play-in territory. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, coach Erik Spoelstra said the urgency is obvious.

“That goes without saying,” Spoelstra said of the push to avoid the play-in. “But it’s getting really competitive right now. You can see the playoff picture forming. You’re either about it or you’re not. I think our locker room is.”

The schedule will not make things easier.

Miami’s recent loss to the Magic kicked off a brutal stretch that includes six games against teams with winning records. The run features matchups with the Lakers, Rockets, and a two-game trip to face the Cavaliers.

Captain Bam Adebayo summed it up simply.

“We’re about to go into the gauntlet,” he said. “These next four or five games. We’ve got to be prepared.”

The Heat have at least been trending the right direction. Since the All-Star break, Miami has gone 9-3 while posting top-10 marks in both offensive and defensive rating.

Still, Spoelstra knows what ultimately decides things for his team.

“We can’t get it twisted,” he said. “What sets the tone for us is defense.”