NBA: 14 Unpopular and bold predictions for the upcoming 2023-24 season

Victor Wembanyama (Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports)
Victor Wembanyama (Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports)
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Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler (Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports)

The Miami Heat will finish with a top 3 record in the Eastern Conference

While everyone seems to be down on the Miami Heat, I don’t exactly believe it’s all that doom and gloom for the team heading into the start of the season. It can be disappointing that the Heat missed out on Damian Lillard and/or Bradley Beal and it can also be an overreaction to say that Miami is going to be a disaster this season. Both those things can be true heading into the start of the season.

In fact, I predict that the Heat are going to have a better regular season, at least, than they did last year. I believe the Heat are going to finish with a top 3 record in the Eastern Conference. There are a few things that could help support that line of thinking. For one, Tyler Herro looks like a player who’s going to enter the season playing with a big chip on his shoulder. Additionally, the team is deeper than they were last season.

If the Heat can avoid the injury bug, they are going to be a handful to deal with every night. I believe the Heat are in a great spot to continue the excellent play that helped them make it all the way to the NBA Finals last season.