NBA Finals Schedule 2012: Heat Must Split on the Road to Keep Hopes Alive

The Miami Heat are at a disadvantage before the NBA Finals even begins because they will be opening up as the road team.

While home-court advantage is a nice luxury in any playoff series, it is especially vital in the finals. To cut down on travel, the finals go to a 2-3-2 format instead of the 2-2-1-1-1 format used in the other rounds.

The NBA went to this format in in 1985. Since that time, the team without the home-court advantage (like the Heat this year) has won just seven of the 27 finals.

The reason this is such a big obstacle is that it is so difficult for the team with only three home games to win three in a row at home.

In fact, only two teams have accomplished this feat since the change in 1985.

That means the Heat better win two games in Oklahoma City if they want to win this series.

While this is a daunting task, the Heat know as well as anyone that it is not impossible. The Mavericks did it to them last year. Dallas won Games 2 and 6 in Miami last year. 

With this in mind, the Heat better take one of the first two games, and the Thunder are not into losing games at home. They finished the regular season with a 26-7 home record and are 8-0 in the playoffs in their own arena. 

However, Miami should focus on their record at home and not the Thunder's at home. Miami is 4-4 on the road in these playoffs. If they can keep winning road games at that rate, they should be in excellent shape. 

2012 NBA Finals Series Schedule (courtesy of NBA.com):

Game 1 - Miami vs. Oklahoma City - Tuesday, June 12, 9:00 PM ET, ABC

Game 2 - Miami vs. Oklahoma City - Thursday, June 14, 9:00 PM ET, ABC

Game 3 - Oklahoma City vs. Miami - Sunday, June 17, 8:00 PM ET, ABC

Game 4 - Oklahoma City vs. Miami - Tuesday, June 19, 9:00 PM ET, ABC

*Game 5 - Oklahoma City vs. Miami - Thursday, June 21, 9:00 PM ET, ABC

*Game 6 - Miami vs. Oklahoma City - Sunday, June 24, 8:00 PM ET, ABC

*Game 7 - Miami vs. Oklahoma City - Tuesday, June 26, 9:00 PM ET, ABC

*if necessary