Miami Heat have 15 games remaining on their schedule, and their next five games are at home. This home stand will be crucial to the Heat's playoff chase as they cannot afford to lose more than two games during it. Combined win percentage of their next five opponents is 43 percent, and they will play against only one playoff team.
At this moment, the Heat are only 0.5 games behind the eighth seed, and they have won 13 of the last 14 home games.
If they keep playing well at home for the remainder of this season, they could reach the sixth seed in the conference.
Miami Heat will face tough opponents in their home stand
The first opponent the Heat will face is New Orleans, and despite their .403 record, they are a very dangerous team that has the amazing duo of big men, DeMarcus Cousins, and Anthony Davis. After the Pelicans, Miami will play against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have played incredibly well since the all-star break. Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns will then visit Miami, and the home stand will end with the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors are the only playoff team the Miami Heat will face during their home stand, but three other teams are in the playoff race in the West and will give their maximum effort to beat Miami. The Heat have already played at least one game against each of these teams and are 2-4 in those games. It is also important to mention that all these teams have amazing big men, which means that Hassan Whiteside and Willie Reed will have to play hard and fight for every rebound as Miami Heat's playoff chances might depend on them.
Miami will play seven playoff teams in their last ten games
Miami Heat will have to win most of their next five games as their schedule will become much harder in the last ten games.
After their homestand, the Heat will travel to Boston and play against the Celtics, who are one of the best teams in the NBA. They will continue their road trip with a back-to-back against the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks. The game against the Pistons will be especially important since they are the seventh seed in the East right now, and beating them could propel the Heat in the standings.
In their last ten games, Miami will be at home only four times, and they will face seven playoff teams. Their last four games of the season are extremely hard as they will play in Toronto and Washington on a back-to-back. After it, they will go home and host the Cleveland Cavaliers and will end their Regular Season with another game against the Washington Wizards.