2011 NBA Playoffs: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat Set for Round 1

After weeks of speculation as to what seed the Sixers would receive in the playoffs, Monday's loss to the Orlando Magic solidified their position as the seventh seed.

Monday's action also included a Boston Celtics loss and a Miami Heat victory, which locks the Heat in as the No. 2 seed and makes them the 76ers' first-round opponent.

It's not good news for those 76ers fans that were hopeful that their team could pull off an upset in the first round of the playoffs. This season, the Sixers are 0-3 against the Heat and have lost those matchups by an average of 10 points.

I'm not trying to be the bearer of bad news to any Sixers fans who want to believe that their team can pull off what would be a monumental upset. I, too, will be wholeheartedly rooting for the 76ers to ruin the championship dreams of the Big Three.

Ever since LeBron James and Chris Bosh brought their talents to South Beach and Miami held that ridiculous welcoming party where King James proclaimed that the Heat would win eight championships, I (like most people) have rooted for the Heat's downfall.

So, in that respect, I'm happy that the Sixers get the first shot at ending the Heat's dream before it even gets started. But as I've alluded to earlier, it's going to be one heck of an uphill battle for Philadelphia to pull it off.

Check back later this week for a more detailed breakdown of what challenges the 76ers will face from the Heat, as well as the things they need to focus on if they hope to commit regicide (for those of you without a "word of the day" calendar, regicide means to kill a king, in this case, King James).