ASK IRA: Are Heat deluding themselves about being close in the East?
Q: Ira, I’m not sure Pat Riley wasn’t wrong. When you look at the East, the Celtics are going to a Game 7, the Pistons are still figuring it out, and the Knicks and Cavaliers already have had their wobbles. – Lance.
A: No, let’s not do that thing where you say it doesn’t matter how you get to the playoffs, as long as you get there. In fact, one of the cringeworthy moments of Pat Riley’s season-ending media session was his comment about how before the trading deadline the Heat saw themselves as a possible top-six team, and therefore out of the play-in bracket. Yes, Pat has come off his championship-or-misery stands over the years, but that still shouldn’t mean a pivot to “We’re No.
6! ” To his credit, he said at no point did the Heat view themselves as championship contenders. But there also was the caveat that he only included the Thunder and Spurs as teams clearly ahead.
Nope. Not when 0-13 combined against the Magic, Raptors and Celtics. There clearly were better teams in the East.
A bunch. So, no, these playoffs should not cloud the Heat’s reality. Related Articles Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!