For fourth straight year, Heat secure nothing more than play-in spot

The Heat are headed back to the play-in. Again.

Miami didn’t want this. Said as much, too. Bam Adebayo called his team “better than being in the play-in” just a few weeks ago.

Doesn’t matter now.

A 121-95 loss to the Raptors on Tuesday officially sealed it. The Heat can’t finish in the top six in the East, which means their only path to the postseason runs through the play-in tournament for a fourth straight year.

Not exactly the plan.

“We’re disappointed,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, via the Associated Press. “We weren’t able to bring another level of competitive spirit to this.”

That part probably stings most.

The play-in is still relatively new, but Miami keeps finding its way there. Four appearances already, tied for the most of any team. The Hawks have been frequent visitors. Same with the Warriors.

Here’s the twist, though: The Heat have never failed to get through it.

They’ve survived every time. Last year, they won two road games as a No. 10 seed just to grab the No. 8 spot. The year before, they used the play-in as a springboard all the way to the Finals.

So yeah, they’ve been here before. Still, this isn’t exactly encouraging.

Miami went 13-20 this season against the East’s other playoff teams. When the competition ramps up, the results haven’t followed.

“We have to rise to the level of the competition,” Spoelstra said. “That’s the bottom line.”

As for the bigger picture, the Heat are currently the only East team locked into the play-in. Philadelphia, Orlando and Charlotte are in the mix for the other spots.

Out West, the Clippers, Trail Blazers and Warriors are already in, with the Suns likely joining them.

The format stays the same. Seven hosts eight. Nine hosts 10. Win and you’re in. Lose and you’re either hanging by a thread or heading home.

The Heat know the drill. They just probably didn’t expect to be running it back like this.