Kendrick Perkins, an NBA commentator and former player, stated on Wednesday that the Miami Heat pose a significant threat in the Eastern Conference playoff standings.
The question of which East team, outside of a top-three seed, has the best chance of advancing in the playoffs was discussed by the analysts on ESPN’s NBA Today. Perkins said, “Go ahead and give me a slap across the head,” to begin his response.
Perkins went on, “When the Miami Heat were struggling, I was like, ‘It’s time to trade Jimmy,'” before complimenting the team’s recent performance. They always step up when it’s appropriate, and right now they’re playing basketball like they’re in the playoffs.
Since the All-Star break, Butler has been the Heat’s best offensive player. Over the previous two weeks, his average has been 25.8 points. Butler scored a career-high 37 points in the Utah Jazz’s 126-120 victory on Saturday.
Among the NBA’s hottest teams is the Heat. In the last eight games, they have won seven of them. The one defeat came at the hands of the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, six points away from home.
The Miami Heat are not welcome in the postseason, Perkins continued, “and when I look at this team, I’m like, man, not only do I know, the rest of the Eastern Conference knows it as well. Right now, this team is playing agenda-free, guys are playing within the team.”
The Heat still have opportunity to grow and are now ranked sixth in the East thanks to their recent play. They are only one game behind the Orlando Magic, who are ranked fourth.
Tonight marks the beginning of the Heat’s two-game Western Conference road trip against the Dallas Mavericks.
