NBA.Com Latest To Put Milwaukee Bucks Ahead Of Miami Heat In Eastern Conference

The Miami Heat made the NBA Finals last season despite being the underdog most of the year.

It appears they will once again enter this year not among the favorites. NBA.com became the latest media outlet to place the Heat low on their preseason power rankings.

The Milwaukee Bucks are No. 1 on the list while the Heat are just projected to finish sixth in the Eastern Conference. They are behind the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. According to NBA.com writer John Schumann, the reason for the slight is simple: everyone is awaiting if Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is coming or not.

"The Heat took a couple of big hits when (Gabe) Vincent and (Max) Strus (fourth and fifth on the team in total playoff minutes) left in free agency," Schumann wrote. "They’re surely building a couple of more undrafted rotation players in the Biscayne Bay laboratory, but they’re also seemingly waiting on a trade for one of the 10 highest-paid players in the league."

A Lillard acquisition instantly raises the Heat's chances of winning a title but it just depends if both sides can agree on a deal.

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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