Network TV analysts bullish on Heat’s chances. Pippen: ‘This is the season for them.’
Several network analysts are bullish about the Heat’s chances when the NBA resumes its season this week. But the support has its limits.
At the front of the Heat bandwagon is seven-time All Star and ESPN analyst Scottie Pippen, who proclaimed: “This is the season for them … Based on how teams are constructed in the East, Miami is constructed well enough to be able to compete [with Milwaukee]. They have guys on that team who have answers for Giannis [Antetokounmpo].”
ABC’s Jeff Van Gundy — on an ABC/ESPN conference call on Monday — said:
“I think Miami can beat anybody in the East in a series if they’re healthy and they’re playing at their best. They wouldn’t be the favorite obviously. Toronto, Boston and obviously Milwaukee are terrific teams, but Miami, their combination of defense, unselfishness and depth is going to make them hard to beat no matter who they play.”
Mark Jackson — Van Gundy’s partner on ESPN’s lead NBA team — told me on that ESPN/ABC call:
“If I was Miami, I wouldn’t be concerned about seeding. I would be concerned about making sure we’re mentally and physically in the right frame of mind and health physically. They have a legitimate chance of beating anybody in the East. The talent they have, the way they defend, the way they shoot the ball, their versatility, their depth and the extremely well coaching they have with Erik Spoelstra.”
TNT’s Dwyane Wade said the nature of the NBA restart “is what the Miami Heat organization is about. We always talk about the best-conditioned, most professional, hardest working. It gets no more challenging than this. They are feeling very confident coming into this. It’s a very deep team, obviously.”
ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins said in March that he believes Miami would beat Milwaukee in a seven-game series: “I looked in Giannis’ face and I saw fear.” He has reiterated his belief in the Heat in recent days.
NBA TV’s Greg Anthony said the Heat “space and share it as well as anyone in the league.”
Though TNT’s Kenny Smith picks Boston to come out of the East, he told WQAM’s Joe Rose that the Heat’s chances are “just as good as anybody. Tyler Herro and all of those young players on the Heat — Kendrick Nunn, [etc.] — those guys are [essentially] coming back in their next season. They’re going to be extremely confident about what they can do in the league. They have a great chance. They’re defensive minded.”
ESPN’s Richard Jefferson, the former NBA forward, said on “The Jump” that the Heat could make the Eastern Conference finals.
But that’s where he draws the line.
“My thing about this Miami Heat team is they are super talented,” Jefferson said. “They are very very deep. I love their versatility and love their youth. Do I think they can make it to a conference finals? Yes. Do I think they would be a super sleeper for the NBA Finals? [Yes]. But there is no way this team has enough to win a championship.
“Boston, in my opinion, has a better team. Milwaukee... the Lakers, Clippers have a better team. In a year, in two years, when Herro and these young players have developed, then I can put them in a one or two category or the ability to win a championship. This year, even with Jimmy Butler’s leadership and the growth of their young players, they are either one legit scorer away or the development of two to three of those younger players to get to that next tier before they’re a championship contender.”
Asked - from a Heat perspective - whether Indiana would be an easier first-round playoff matchup than Philadelphia — with the Pacers without Domantas Sabonis and uncertain if Victor Oladipo would play — Jeff Van Gundy said:
“I think you have to be very careful what you hope for as a team. Sabonis is a heck of a player, but you would be underestimating an Indiana team and a Nate McMillan-coached team if you thought that was the better matchup. They are tough. They play exceptionally hard. They have good depth. Obviously, Sabonis is out and Oladipo is out, it’s a decimated team.
“Philly is really good. I’m interested to see how the Ben Simmons morphing of him between point guard and power forward works out, how Al Horford adjusts to the bench. They’re an exceptionally talented team.”
This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 11:27 AM.
