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Somehow, Heat still have a shot at the East playoffs

Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson (8) is fouled by Toronto Raptors' Greivis Vasquez during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Friday, March 13, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)
Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson (8) is fouled by Toronto Raptors' Greivis Vasquez during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Friday, March 13, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn) Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson (8) is fouled by Toronto Raptors' Greivis Vasquez during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Friday, March 13, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

By Associated Press 3 min read

MIAMI (AP) – Here are some key members of the current Miami Heat rotation: A center who resuscitated his career in Lebanon, a forward who was playing for a bad team in China a few weeks ago, and a couple of graduates of the NBA Development League.

What a difference a year makes.

Forget a fifth straight run to the NBA Finals. These Heat will have to scrap to make the Eastern Conference playoffs, and now begin a daunting stretch starting Monday against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“We’re fighting, absolutely fighting, for our playoff lives,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Entering this week, Indiana (30-35) holds the No. 7 seed, with Charlotte (29-35) a half-game back in eighth. Miami (29-36) is another half-game back in ninth, a tiebreaker ahead of Boston (29-36).