5 Reasons Why The Playoffs Aren’t The Same Without The Miami Heat

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3. Most Successful Eastern Conference Franchise in Recent Memory

The Miami Heat players, coaches, owner and other staff pose with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after their team defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 to win the NBA Finals basketball playoff in Miami

Since 2005, there have been just four teams representing the East in the NBA Finals other than the Heat—the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Celtics and Orlando Magic. Of those franchises, Miami is the only team to have gone to the finals on more than two occasions.

Despite the Heat being such a young franchise (27 seasons), they have accomplished a lot in just a little amount of time. Their three championships represent the fifth-highest total in NBA history.

It has become an annual visual to watch the Heat face off in classic rivalries with teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Celtics in the playoffs.

Due to the absence of Miami from the postseason, you won’t be seeing a continuation of the aforementioned rivalries.

Next: Heat Not Having a Chance to Defend Its East Crown

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D.J. Siddiqi grew up in the heart of South Florida in Broward County. Growing up in South Florida during the late 90's and 2000's, D.J. witnessed the Pat Riley years where the Miami Heat faced off with the New York Knicks all the way to the painful late 2000's seasons where the Heat were a one-man team with Dwyane Wade. D.J. has closely followed the Heat over the past decade-and-a-half, and unfortunately witnessed Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals in person when the Dallas Mavericks overcame a 15-point deficit to knock off the Heat. D.J. has writing experience as a columnist with sites such as Bleacher Report and Rant Sports, and he is proud to bring his knowledge of the Heat and the NBA to Heat Nation.