How Bad Have the Miami Heat Actually Been This Season?
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The Miami Heat haven’t had the easiest time against Western Conference opponents this year.
The Heat fell 118-105 to the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. In addition to dropping its seventh straight contest, the Heat also lost their third straight game against a Western Conference team.
The Heat are now 6-8 against non-conference teams, including a series sweep to the Suns. The struggle marks a big contrast from the team’s 20-10 record against the West a year ago.
Miami’s struggles against the non-conference opponents are against the team’s norm over the past few seasons. The Heat had a winning around against the Western Conference in each season since 2019-20. They were 14-16 that year.
Miami has averaged the least amount of points by a team from the East against the West this year. The Heat also have the lowest shooting percentage and second-lowest three-point shooting percentage against the Western Conference.
Even looking at the most recent contests, Miami has given up 116.5 points per game over its last five matchups with teams from the West. The Heat have averaged just 106.2 points over that same stretch with a 1-4 record.
The Heat have yet to play half of their games against Western Conference teams. Miami still has two matchups with the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings, two of the top five seeds in the West.
The Heat play the Kings on Wednesday.
Casey Fahrer is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at caseyfahrer716@gmail.com.
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