"One of the early surprises of the season, Philadelphia has thrived on lockdown defense and superior athleticism. That recipe might sound familiar to Miami fans.

"In many ways, when you see the Philadelphia 76ers, it's like looking in a mirror," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "The athleticism, the speed, the activity they bring to the game. They brought virtually their entire core back and they seem much more comfortable."

The most notable difference between the two teams is age. While the Heat is the NBA's sixth-oldest team (average age is 28.63), the 76ers (26.34) are closer to the league average."