Now that the dust has settled from a busy offseason, the HEAT are just about ready to embark on their 29th season. While the team added a number of new pieces, Goran Dragić, Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson should still be key contributors.
With the NBA announcing schedules for all 30 teams on Thursday, we now have a better understanding of what Miami has to deal with. Below are the ten things you need to know about the HEAT’s 2016-17 slate.
Season Opener
For the first time since the lockout-shortened 2011-2012 season, Miami will open the year on the road. It won’t have to travel too far from home though, as the team will face the Orlando Magic on October 26 at 7:00 PM.
Like the HEAT, the Magic have also tweaked their roster. After trading for Serge Ibaka on draft night, Orlando signed Bismack Biyombo and Jeff Green among others in free agency.
The Magic’s new and improved frontcourt should be a good test for Miami in the early going.
Photo Credit: Fernando Medina
Early Showdown with San Antonio
The HEAT’s second home game of the season will be a dandy, as the Spurs head down south for an explosive matchup on October 30. Tim Duncan announced his retirement in July, but San Antonio still has a championship-caliber core of Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker to go along with new-addition Pau Gasol.
Whiteside has fared well against Gasol in his career, so perhaps he can have some success once again. Winslow, meanwhile, should have his hands full with Leonard. That’ll definitely be a fun battle.
Photo Credit: Issac Baldizon
Wade Returns
Make sure to mark you calendars on November 10 for what should be an eventful evening. After an unforgettable 13-year run in a HEAT uniform, Dwyane Wade will make his return to AmericanAirlines Arena.
Emotions will be running high throughout, but it’s all about what happens on the court. In addition to Wade, Miami will also have to be wary of Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo.
Photo Credit: Issac Baldizon
An Old Rival
It’s always fun when the HEAT and Knicks get together.
On December 6, Miami will meet New York at home for the first of three meetings between the two.
While the Knicks have had some down years recently, they made some noise during the offseason with the acquisitions of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to pair with Carmelo Anthony and Krisaps Porziņģis.
New York will be tough to handle, but health will be critical. We’ll see how Dragić and Whiteside fare against the new-look Knicks.
Photo Credit: Issac Baldizon
Home for the Holidays
Last season, the HEAT benefited from a bunch of home games in November and got off to a quick start. This time around though, the team’s longest homestand will be a six-game slate from December 12-22. The gauntlet includes the Wizards, Pacers, Clippers, Celtics, Magic and Lakers.
The homestand comes after a tough stretch of four games in five nights, so it will be vital for Miami to take full advantage at home.
Photo Credit: Issac Baldizon
January Road Trip
The HEAT will travel out west in the first week of January for their longest road trip of the year. Miami’s six-game docket consists of the Suns, Kings, Lakers, Clippers, Warriors and Bucks. If you count the games in the week prior, the HEAT will play eight of nine contests on the road from December 29-January 13.
Since this west coast trip is pretty long, it’s a great opportunity for the team to grow closer together.
Photo Credit: Andrew D. Bernstein
Super Team Hits Miami
Even before the Warriors acquired Kevin Durant, they were an all-time great team. Now with the soon-to-be 28-year-old in the mix, things can get crazy for the rest of the league.
Needless to say, it will be a must-watch contest when the Warriors come to town on January 23. Miami will need to have all hands on deck in order to come away victorious in this one.
Photo Credit: Issac Baldizon
Ellington & Reed Go Back to Barclays
On January 25, Wayne Ellington and Willie Reed will make their return to Barclays Center and play their former team for the first time. Although both were in Brooklyn for just one season, they’ll likely want to do well against their old teammates. It should be fun to see how Ellington and Reed approach the contest.
Photo Credit: Ned Dishman
Defending Champs
While we will no longer be able to see Wade and LeBron James go at it in Miami, the defending champions will still be a great litmus test for the HEAT. After playing Cleveland on December 9 at Quicken Loans Arena, Miami won’t meet the Cavaliers again until March 4 and 6 when it faces them in consecutive games. Hopefully by that point, the HEAT will have built some momentum entering the home stretch of the regular season.
Photo Credit: Joe Murphy
Back-to-Backs
Miami will play 15 back-to-back sets, which is two less than a season ago. Like last year, there is only one instance of four games in five nights. As mentioned previously, that grueling stretch occurs just before the HEAT’s season-long homestand.
After playing the Knicks at AmericanAirlines Arena on December 6, Miami then hits the road for a matchup with the Hawks a day later. After a one-day break, the HEAT then face Cleveland and Chicago in consecutive nights.
While that may be the toughest stretch of games for Miami, the most unique back-to-back set will be in November. On the day after Thanksgiving, the team faces Memphis at The Grindhouse before playing them once again the next night in Miami.
Photo Credit: Joe Murphy