The only way I see Mia making it out the East this season are if the other teams have injuries. No way Mia can get through 2-3 of Ind, Nets, NYKs, Chi, and one of the unknowns. Mia may get to the ECF but they will be too beaten up to get any further. They have barely escaped 2 seasons in a row against a conference of teams with their (best) players hurt or out. Mia will surely face 2 really good defensive teams in rnd 2 and 3. I hope Cleveland gets them in round 1, I don't see them beating them but I can see a tougher series than a usual round 1 is for Mia... if Bynum is healthy (major IF)! Mia has nothing for an excellent PG AND Big... add on how bad Clev wants to beat them (games in Clev), that would be something good to watch!
Good deal for the Pacers even though it's a slight overpay to me... I guess that's to rid themselves of Green.
Miami should smoke whoever they get in the first round in 5 games tops.
If they get the Knicks in round 2, easy work for them. 5 games, maybe 6 if Carmelo is in characteristically efficient for a few games.
But yeah, Nets, Pacers and Bulls could all give them real trouble. I'd like to see Miami vs Indy or Bulls, then have the Nets waiting for them in the ECF.
I could see Nets and Heat finishing 1-2. Nets won 49 games after a bad start and have replaced Wallace, Humphries, Bogans, Brooks, and Watson with Pierce, KG, AK47, Terry, and Livingston. A 50-win team got significantly better at 4 different spots (don't think Livingston is much of an upgrade over Watson, if any). They could surpass 60 IMO.
If Nets have HCA against Heat and everyone else, they are going to the Finals.