Heat begins string of games against possible playoff opponents. Also, a Jimmy Butler update
The Miami Heat’s first-round playoff opponent is still to be determined, but there’s a chance that team is on the Heat’s eight-game seeding schedule.
With Miami entering Monday’s afternoon game against the Toronto Raptors in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, the Heat’s two most likely first-round playoff opponents are the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers. Indiana and Philadelphia are jockeying for the fifth seed in East, which would be Miami’s first-round matchup if it remains in the No. 4 position.
Indiana is currently in fifth place. If the Heat and Pacers face off to start the postseason, which begins Aug. 17, it will be after two seeding games against each other during the next 11 days.
Miami’s sixth seeding game comes against Indiana on Aug. 10, and its eighth and final seeding game also comes against Indiana on Aug. 14.
Does coach Erik Spoelstra consider holding things back against teams the Heat could see in the playoffs?
“I get that idea of it. But you are who you are,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat set to complete its lone back-to-back set during seeding games on Tuesday against the Boston Celtics at 6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports Sun, TNT). “And it’s more important ultimately that you can do that, consistently, whatever your identity is. I have a real comfort level to be able to do that, particularly when there is adversity. And you build that through competition. Trying to hide things or disguise what your identity is, I think it defeats the purpose of what you’re trying to get accomplished.”
But it’s not just about the Heat’s first-round playoff opponent. Monday’s game against Toronto began a string of three consecutive game against the top three teams in the East — Monday vs. No. 2 Raptors, Tuesday vs. No. 3 Celtics and Thursday vs. No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks — that Miami could face off against later in the postseason.
“If you’re a competitor, this is what you want,” Spoelstra said. “You want all of the games to have meaning, context and to be the best competition. That’s what you’re looking at in this bubble scenario. Basically all the teams are in the playoffs or fighting desperately to get in.”
JIMMY BUTLER UPDATE
Heat All-Star wing Jimmy Butler was available to play Monday against the Raptors.
Butler missed Sunday’s light practice with what the team termed as an “excused absence,” but he never left the NBA bubble. Multiple league sources told the Miami Herald on Sunday evening that Butler was expected to play against Toronto, barring something unforeseen.
Spoelstra confirmed Butler’s availability before Monday’s contest but declined to comment on the reason for Butler’s absence from Sunday’s practice.
Bam Adebayo (right quadriceps contusion) and Goran Dragic (upper back spasms) were also available to play Monday against the Raptors. Both were listed as probable for the contest on Sunday’s injury report.
▪ Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer and Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan were voted the National Basketball Coaches Association co-coaches of the year.
Spoelstra was among eight coaches who received votes for the honor. The award is voted on by the league’s 30 head coaches, with each coach voting for a single winner.
▪ NBA coaches are allowed to wear casual attire for games at Walt Disney World, and Spoelstra is a fan of the relaxed dress code.
“I love it. I do. It’s a lot less to think about,” said Spoelstra, who has worn slacks and polos to coach games at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista. “You just have to grab a black shirt, black pants, and you’re ready to go. Not that I was that great with my suits. But it takes a little bit more thought when you have to wear suits.”
Spoelstra, who usually wears a suit and tie for games, said he hopes the NBA considers carrying this new dress code for coaches into future seasons.
“We’ll see what happens,” Spoelstra said. “I have no idea where this discussion will go. But I can speak from our coaching staff, we’ve enjoyed it.”
