Miami Heat Are Rock Stars According To NBA 2K Video Game Rankings

So much was made about the Miami Heat during the offseason. 

Some NBA pundits felt they made a major move when they acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson in free agency. Others felt the Heat gave up too much to sign a pair of players who may be perhaps their prime. 

It has caused a difference in opinion by many who follow the league. Are the Heat destined for another appearance in the Play-In Tournament as they've been accustomed to the past few years? Or are they ready to return to dominance as they were during the Jimmy Butler and LeBron James era? 

Despite all the differences, at least one group considers the Heat an elite team. According to the makers of the ever popular NBA 2K video game, the Heat are among the top 10 teams in the league. 

The NBA 2K rankings listed Miami as the No. 7 team in the NBA. By the game's count, the Heat are the fourth-best team in the Eastern Conference. 

Let's take a look at this breakdown: 

The Philadelphia 76ers are obviously the No. 1 seed in the East during the preseason. They added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to pair them with VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. That's arguably one of the best starting lineups in NBA history. 

At No. 2 is the New York Knicks, who are coming off winning their first championship in 50 years. Not much has changed in New York. It's almost like the franchise is being disrespected because of what the Sixers did in the offseason. But the Knicks should be considered a contender despite what has happened around the league. 

And No. 3 is the Detroit Pistons, who were the No. 1 seed last year before being bounced by the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games in the conference semifinals. The young Pistons have one more year of experience, so there's no reason not to expect them to have a bounce back year. 

The Heat check in at No. 4 on this list but you have to mention the Cavaliers, who are once again locked and loaded for a run to the Finals. There's Donovan Mitchell and James Harden and a host of other players who can contribute. 

And we haven't even mentioned the Indiana Pacers, who just two seasons ago were in the NBA Finals when they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder despite being without point guard Tyrese Haliburton. 

Regardless, the Heat have every chance to compete in the East as the rest of the conference.