Miami Heat
2017-18 record: 44-38
2017-18 season series: 2-2
2018-19 advantage: Sixers
This situation changes drastically if Jimmy Butler makes his way to Miami. Adding a top-15 player to Erik Spoelstra’s system makes the Heat a very real threat in the Eastern Conference, especially if Goran Dragic and/or Josh Richardson stays on board.
Through a few preseason games, Hassan Whiteside looks like a new man. He’s active on the glass, impacting the game defensively and scoring at the rim. He even hit some corner threes, which is certainly something.
Miami is a tough defensive team that becomes elite with Butler. Without Butler, their effort level and versatility is still enough to disrupt the Sixers in a seven-game series, as we saw last season. In the end, however, Philly holds the talent advantage.
Embiid went to town on the Heat frontcourt in the playoffs, something that will continue in 2018-19. Miami struggled to find an answer for the Sixers’ offense once things got clicking, and Fultz figures to add another dynamic this season.