(AP) - To say the Miami Heat have been presented with a new problem every day since last season ended, that would be an exaggeration. But not by much.

Yet, somehow, the Heat find themselves still in the mix for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, hanging on to the No. 7 position with 23 games left starting with Wednesday night's home matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

For the Heat (26-33), strange has become normal. Players who weren't in Miami when the season began now find themselves in key roles, arguably the team's most vital player saw his season end after a major health scare threatened his life, and a roster that needed rebuilding after LeBron James left last summer has needed constantly, almost-daily rejiggering since.