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First, let’s start with a caveat. The Miami Heat are not like other No. 8 seeds in league history.
Miami actually finished with the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference during the regular season. But after losing to the Atlanta Hawks during the first game of the play-in tournament back in April, the Heat had to beat the Bulls to claw their way back into the postseason.
But they became the eighth seed and had to face the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs in the East. After upsetting the Bucks and then the Knicks and then the Celtics, they earned a spot in the NBA Finals.
The NBA playoffs expanded to include 16 teams in 1984 and no 8-seeds have ever won the championship. But even without a title, the Heat are in the midst of making history.
Miami's 13 wins are the most by an 8-seed in a single postseason.
The 1998-99 Knicks (12) previously held the record. pic.twitter.com/6QEkoADh6e
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 5, 2023
After defeating the Nuggets in Game 2 in Denver on Monday, Miami secured its 13th win of the postseason. That officially became the most by any No. 8 seed in NBA history, surpassing the previous record (12) set by the Knicks in 1998-99.
This year’s Miami squad and the 1999 Knicks are the only two 8-seeds to ever advance past the second round. Aside from the 1999 Knicks, per Basketball-Reference, no other No. 8 seed has ever won more than seven games in a single postseason.
In fact, we have never seen a No. 7 seed win an NBA championship, either. The lowest-seeded team to win the NBA Finals was the No. 6 seed Rockets back in 1995.
So even if you think the Heat are not a regular No. 8 seed because they had the seventh-best record in the East, this is still arguably the most improbable upset run we have seen in the NBA.
The Tip-Off
NBA content from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
We updated our 2023 NBA Mock Draft, and we have Amen Thompson to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 3 overall. Here is why:
“I do not think the Portland Trail Blazers end up using this draft pick and would prefer win-now pieces to play alongside Damian Lillard next year, and instead, I’d expect them to trade it to a team seeking to find their point guard of the future in Scoot Henderson.
But until a trade is made, I’m going to act as if Portland is indeed making the pick. In that case, be open to the possibility that the Trail Blazers may be unafraid to take an unconventional route and select Amen Thompson. As he told Casey Holdahl:
“Everybody says there’s a clear-cut top 3. I feel like that’s kind of doing the draft a disservice … It’s more than three, for sure, and if there’s three … I’m one of them.”
Portland recently hosted Amen and his twin brother, Ausar, for a private workout and Amen displayed his jaw-dropping vertical pop.
Just look at who they drafted in the lottery last year and you can learn a bit of what they may value. Shaedon Sharpe was considered a “wildcard” after not playing in college but he is also one of the most athletic players in the world. Frankly, so is Amen. Both players are 6-foot-6 or taller and they would be an unreal duo in the same lineup.”
Shootaround
— NBA fans are missing the giant trophy logo decal at center court and a special ESPN scoreboard
— NBA fans mocked Jeff Van Gundy’s weird rant after Kevin Love and Gabe Vincent hugged in Game 2
— The Mavericks reportedly tried to trade for LeBron at the deadline and all we can do is laugh
— 7 cities most likely for NBA expansion as Adam Silver floats 2024 discussions