Miami Heat Rumors 2016: Does Team Need Home Court Advantage In Playoffs?

NBA's Eastern Conference has put many of its team in a very combative mode-a kind of competitive atmosphere that has not been seen in the east coast side of the league for quite some time. As the playoffs start kicking in, Miami Heat is holding on to dear life in the first round so as the other teams. In the playoffs, home court advantage is of strategic as well as tactical importance to get the gameplay going in the race to the finals.

The top contenders appeared to have gained ground already but are still fighting ferociously for that highly coveted advantage. But the forthcoming games won't be easy as the top performing teams do not appear to be slowing down just to stay in the playoffs.

For many analysts, it'll be heat needing the homecourt advantage if the team wishes to see light toward the finals or the NBA title itself.

"What the Heat need is to lock up home court in the 1st round...they're a .500 team on the road this year," said Yahoo Sports NBA Senior Writer Michael Lee as quoted by CBS Local Miami.

As for Heat guard and star player Dwayne Wade, he had enough memories in his previous seasons with Miami to make him qualified to say why homecourt is of great importance to the franchise.

"It would great to start off on home court, with a mix of a team that's playing and really counting on younger guys," Wade said as quoted by Miami Herald. He continued saying, "That would be great. I remember my first playoff series, the reason we won it was we had home court. We won all four games."

With Miami's recent performance leading to the playoffs, Sun Sentinel sports writer Ira Winderman also underscores the importance of homecourt advantage for the Heat as the team is 'far more efficient at home'. Furthermore, its embarrassing defeats in Boston and Milwaukee will make homecourt an even precious asset.

"Based on how the Heat have been playing on the road lately, I would say very important. There have been times lately on the road, including in San Antonio and Portland, when the Heat looked like anything but a playoff team. And there also was that costly meltdown loss in Boston, let alone the recent embarrassments in Milwaukee and at Staples Center against the Lakers," observed Ira Winderman as stated in a report by Sun Sentinel.