OGSactownballer wrote:The problem the Heat face here is the exact same one as the Kings when it comes to taking it to the tank for the season - there're just a little too good. The fact is that as they get healthier through the rest of the season (just like the Kings) they will hover at that playoff/low end of the lotto level and have about a billion to one chance of getting any of those top three picks. On the other hand IF they do get healthy over the next month, and add solid vets they have the ability AND the experience to go far in the East playoffs.
the thing they really have to decide is whether or not to gamble on that or being mediocre. Tank is really not going to be in the cards pretty soon, unless they really intentionally stink it out and the league won't stand for that.
Both teams need to be looking towards the future. The west is WAAAY too strong for Sacto to make a push for the POs, especially when more talented teams like Houston and Utah aren't even in contentiona and they have better records.
Miami is sitting at 8-26 with Shaq out for an indeterminant amount of time and Wade reinjuring his shoulder against Memphis. Chances are they aren't going on a winning streak any time soon but hypothetically, what would it take for them to make the playoffs? If a .500 record is what the 8th seed needs, they would have to go 33-15 for the rest of the season. That just isn't gonna happen regardless of what they do. Hell, Miami doesn't have to tank, they can play better than they are now and still be the third or fourth worst team in the league.
Like I said, any moves that they make should be forward looking. Not necessarilly tanking but don't sacrifice a player you like so you can be 25-57 instead of 20-62.
