Miami Heat
Team of Note
1998-1999 Miami Heat
Record: 33-17Overall ranking: 144th, 4.780 points above average
The 1998-1999 Miami Heat are the Eastern Conference’s answer to the 1993-1994 Seattle Supersonics.
The 1998-1999 Heat became the first Eastern Conference No. 1 seed to lose in the first round of the playoffs since the NBA went to its current 16-team postseason format during the 1983-1984 season.
Miami’s postseason collapse comes with a couple of asterisks.
The Heat achieved the No. 1 seed in a lockout-shortened season.
Miami also faced an atypical No. 8 seed — the New York Knicks — in the first round of the playoffs. The Knicks knocked better-seeded Heat teams out of the playoffs three straight times between 1998 and 2000
New York won the 1999 playoff series when Allan Houston’s running jumper at the buzzer gave the Knicks a 78-77 victory in the decisive Game 5. New York went on to become the only No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals.
Miami Heat From Top to Bottom
| All-time Ranking | W-L | Playoffs | ||
| 99 | 2004-05 | Miami Heat | 59-23 | East finals |
| 114 | 1996-97 | Miami Heat | 61-21 | East finals |
| 144 | 1997-98 | Miami Heat | 55-27 | East first round |
| 152 | 1998-99 | Miami Heat | 33-17 | East first round |
| 224 | 2005-06 | Miami Heat | 52-30 | NBA champion |
| 299 | 1999-00 | Miami Heat | 52-30 | East semifinals |
| 340 | 1993-94 | Miami Heat | 42-40 | East first round |
| 397 | 2000-01 | Miami Heat | 50-32 | East first round |
| 441 | 1995-96 | Miami Heat | 42-40 | East first round |
| 589 | 2003-04 | Miami Heat | 42-40 | East semifinals |
| 691 | 1992-93 | Miami Heat | 36-46 | |
| 708 | 2006-07 | Miami Heat | 44-38 | East first round |
| 775 | 2001-02 | Miami Heat | 36-46 | |
| 780 | 1994-95 | Miami Heat | 32-50 | |
| 949 | 1991-92 | Miami Heat | 38-44 | East first round |
| 1007 | 2002-03 | Miami Heat | 25-57 | |
| 1048 | 1990-91 | Miami Heat | 24-58 | |
| 1137 | 1989-90 | Miami Heat | 18-64 | |
| 1148 | 1988-89 | Miami Heat | 15-67 | |