Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat Aim Higher Than Play-In Tournament

The Heat star wants his team to break out of their recent Play-In Tournament appearances.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:44am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Miami Heat basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of red, yellow, and blue creating a fragmented, multi-perspective view of the action on the court.The Miami Heat's quest to move beyond the Play-In Tournament and into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference playoffs is a fractured, multi-faceted challenge requiring a holistic, geometrically-driven approach.Today in Miami

The Miami Heat have become a regular fixture in the NBA's Play-In Tournament in recent years, much to the frustration of star player Tyler Herro. Despite having a talented roster including Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Norman Powell, the Heat have struggled to maintain consistency and secure a top-6 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. Herro is determined to will the team out of the Play-In and into the postseason proper, where he believes they can compete with the best teams in the East.

Why it matters

As one of the most successful franchises in the Eastern Conference, the Heat are expected to be contenders for the NBA title each season. Their recent Play-In Tournament appearances have been seen as underachieving for a team with their level of talent and pedigree. Herro's comments show the team's desire to break out of that trend and return to the upper echelon of the East.

The details

The Heat have gone through an up-and-down season, capable of beating top teams like the 76ers but also suffering losses to lesser opponents like the Pacers. Their inconsistency has led to their Play-In Tournament appearances in recent years, which Herro is determined to avoid. The young star wants the Heat to 'work their way out of the play-in' and play their best basketball when it matters most in the postseason.

  • On Monday, the Heat beat the 76ers in the second game of a back-to-back.
  • The previous night, the Heat lost to the Indiana Pacers.

The players

Tyler Herro

A young star player for the Miami Heat who is frustrated with the team's recent struggles to avoid the Play-In Tournament.

Bam Adebayo

An All-Star caliber player for the Miami Heat who, along with Herro and Norman Powell, gives the team a talented core.

Norman Powell

Another All-Star-level player for the Miami Heat who, with Herro and Adebayo, forms a formidable trio for the team.

Pat Riley

The team president of the Miami Heat, known for his desire to build championship contenders.

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What they’re saying

“I don't want to say we're play-in champs, but we're trying to work our way out of the play-in. At this time of the year, anything can happen. We want to play our best basketball. This is one step in the right direction.”

— Tyler Herro, Miami Heat Player

What’s next

The Heat will need to continue winning games and building momentum to secure a top-6 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, avoiding the Play-In Tournament.

The takeaway

Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat have higher aspirations than just making the Play-In Tournament, a trend they've grown accustomed to in recent years. With a talented roster including Herro, Adebayo, and Powell, the Heat believe they can compete with the best teams in the East and make a deep postseason run, rather than just scraping into the playoffs through the Play-In.