The Miami Heat are quietly looking like NBA title contenders even though their play is not flashy like many teams. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are all-stars, but the Heat doesn’t have a top ten player. Yet their team-centric play and their excellent defense have them squarely in contention.
Another thing to consider, too, is that many teams are facing major injury concerns. The Heat are healthy and are playing some of the best basketball of any team in the league right now. Facing off with the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, a very strong offensive team, the Heat have stifled them.
Could the Heat be similar to the early 2000’s Detroit Pistons that also did not have a top ten player but had a couple of all-stars and a league-best defense win a championship? Well, if the Heat keeps playing this way, there is no doubt they will likely be one of the last teams left standing.