Power rankings by ESPN and Washington Post give the Miami Heat newfound respect as title contenders.
Both ESPN and the Washington Post bumped the Miami Heat up in their power rankings. Marc Stein raised the Heat one spot to the eighth, while Tim Bontemps at the Washington Post placed the Heat third in his rankings. Both attributed the improved play to the team's increased offensive punch.
SportsVu tracking numbers back up gut feelings about the recent surge in scoring of the Miami Heat. Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson seem to quicken the pace of Heat, and SportsVu statistics verify the eyeball test, especially on defense.