Sixers: Ranking possible first-round matchups in 2021

Sixers’ potential first-round matchup #5: Miami Heat

Not dissimilar to Boston, Miami has vastly underperformed this season. After making it to the Bubble Finals, many considered the Heat a true contender in the East. While much of the same personnel is on the roster, the 26-25 Heat shouldn’t strike much fear into the world-beating Sixers. And yet…

There’s Jimmy Butler. If possible, the Sixers should like to avoid Jimmy Butler. At least until the second round. Not only is Butler the best player on the teams listed, but he is a harrowing reminder of Philadelphia’s most recent failures. Butler is a demon the Sixers have not yet exorcised.

The Sixers have a pretty decent answer to Butler in Ben Simmons, who are infamously not BFFs. The former Headband Bros. can, on a good night, cancel each other out with elite D. Embiid would have a tough challenge in Bam Adebayo, but it’s a challenge he has traditionally won. Count me skeptical of Victor Oladipo making a significant impact on a Miami playoff run.

Frankly, the Heat may be the only half-good team on this list. The bottom of the East is full of pretenders who would struggle to make the play-in tournament out west. The Heat would be ninth in the West right now. Miami’s recent postseason success is worth considering, and Butler has a real grim reaper vibe around Philadelphia, but even this should be an easily winnable series for Philadelphia.