Post by Zoltar on Feb 16, 2006 1:16:57 GMT -4
For Reggie Miller, even though the Miami Heat has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association it is vulnerable.
Going into games Tuesday night, the Heat would be the second-seeded team in the playoffs, which means it would play the No. 7 team, the neighborhood the Milwaukee Bucks occupy.
It appears Miami has little chance of catching Detroit in the second half of the season, no matter how well the Heat plays.
Miller, the former Indiana Pacers star guard, is now a studio and game analyst for TNT.
"Miami better be careful because any one of these teams could fall into that seven slot, Philadelphia or Milwaukee," Miller said Tuesday during a conference call with reporters. "These teams, given the right circumstances with the right players, (could beat Miami). Allen Iverson can get hot. Michael Redd can get hot. If players like that in these series get hot, anything is possible."
Miller said Miami's victory over Detroit on Sunday was a product of good fortune and Dwyane Wade's heroics. He questioned Miami's effort recently in a blowout road loss to Dallas.
"A team with championship aspirations, you can't go on the road and lose that bad, especially on national TV," Miller said. "When you come out and give that kind of effort - and the game against Detroit, they were really lucky to win that ball game."
Miller said he would not be shocked to see Miami exit the playoffs in the first round, given what he has seen from the team in the first half of the season.
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If the Bucks wind up facing Miami, the task of upsetting a No. 2 might not be out of reach.
"I wouldn't be surprised if there was a shock in the first round when it comes to a Miami or even a New Jersey, if they are not careful," Miller said.
Dog has his day
Going into games Tuesday night, the Heat would be the second-seeded team in the playoffs, which means it would play the No. 7 team, the neighborhood the Milwaukee Bucks occupy.
It appears Miami has little chance of catching Detroit in the second half of the season, no matter how well the Heat plays.
Miller, the former Indiana Pacers star guard, is now a studio and game analyst for TNT.
"Miami better be careful because any one of these teams could fall into that seven slot, Philadelphia or Milwaukee," Miller said Tuesday during a conference call with reporters. "These teams, given the right circumstances with the right players, (could beat Miami). Allen Iverson can get hot. Michael Redd can get hot. If players like that in these series get hot, anything is possible."
Miller said Miami's victory over Detroit on Sunday was a product of good fortune and Dwyane Wade's heroics. He questioned Miami's effort recently in a blowout road loss to Dallas.
"A team with championship aspirations, you can't go on the road and lose that bad, especially on national TV," Miller said. "When you come out and give that kind of effort - and the game against Detroit, they were really lucky to win that ball game."
Miller said he would not be shocked to see Miami exit the playoffs in the first round, given what he has seen from the team in the first half of the season.
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If the Bucks wind up facing Miami, the task of upsetting a No. 2 might not be out of reach.
"I wouldn't be surprised if there was a shock in the first round when it comes to a Miami or even a New Jersey, if they are not careful," Miller said.
Dog has his day