There really is something in the water lately that makes our pro sports teams stop being such gawd-awful municipal embarrassments. Last year, the Heat had its worse season since its inaugural year, which didn't help to ease the pain we were experiencing after the Fins' 1-15 season.
Things have turned around, and not even halfway into the season, they've won six more games then they did all last season. They have a strong bench and a reinvigorated Dwyane Wade. Of course they're stuck at third in the division, behind the Hawks and Magic, but they're one of only six Eastern Conference teams with a winning record, so a playoff berth is quite possible. So while the Fins benefited from being in a sucky division, the Heat's playoff hopes are kept alive by being in a sucky conference.
They're on the road all weekend, playing a solid Houston team Saturday and then a pushover Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday.
The real test comes next week at home, when they'll host two teams with the strongest records in the league. It's the Boston Celtics Wednesday and Orlando next Saturday.