Ira Winderman: For the Heat, it didn’t have to be this way

In just over a week, it will be all about a forward-thinking approach, the NBA playoffs ultimately to define the Miami Heat’s season.

And yet, as was the case a year ago, there have been defining moments along the way that (in)distinguish the road traveled and playoff seeding.

Last season, a bad April 23 loss to an Atlanta Hawks team lacking sidelined Trae Young and Clint Capela left the Heat as the No. 6 seed in the East and a first-round 4-0 sweep victim at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. Win that game in Atlanta and the Heat would have been the No. 4 seed and hosted the happy-to-be-there New York Knicks in the first round, a team the Hawks eliminated in five games.