NBA Playoff Power Rankings: Is It Smart To Sleep On The Oklahoma City Thunder?

6. Miami Heat (1-0)

I’m not sure the Miami Heat can play any better than they did in Game 1. But that’s OK, because even if they play half as good as they did in Game 1, they should still have a chance to win this series. That’s not a knock on the Hornets, that’s a testament on how great they played in Game 1.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the Heat’s Game 1 was how well Hassan Whiteside played in his playoff debut. And his strong performance in Game 1 could very well be the springboard to what Miami is going to need from him to make a deep run. Whiteside finished with 21, points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals on 82 percent shooting from the field.

More than anything though, he didn’t let the moment get the best of him.

Next: Los Angeles Clippers