Miami Heat 2012-13 Schedule: Monthly Breakdown and W-L Predictions

No NBA team will be entering the 2012 season with higher expectations than the defending champions Miami Heat.

With the season's schedule release we can start to speculate how the Heat are going to follow up their Championship showing in 2013.

Are they going to falter under the ridiculous spotlight or continue showing the league why they are the next dynasty?

October/November List of Games

October 30th vs. Boston Celtics

November 2nd @ New York Knicks

November 3rd vs. Denver Nuggets

November 5th vs. Phoenix Suns

November 7th vs. Brooklyn Nets

November 9th @ Atlanta Hawks

November 11th @ Memphis Grizzlies

November 12th @ Houston Rockets

November 14th @ LA Clippers

November 15th @ Denver Nuggets

November 17th @ Phoenix Suns

November 21st vs. Milwaukee Bucks

November 24th vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

November 29th vs. San Antonio Spurs

Key Games and Prediction

October 30th Heat vs. Celtics

This rematches the epic seven-game Eastern Conference Finals that saw the Heat win the last two games and advance to the Finals. The big story on the day will be Ray Allen playing his former team that he helped lead to a championship. Like most games between the two team,s it should be hard fought and come down to the last few minutes of action.

November 2nd @ New York

The Knicks did well in free agency with pick ups of Raymond Felton, Marcus Camby and Jason Kidd being the most notable. They are again billed as a contender, and after being ousted in five games of the first round last year by Miami, the Knicks have something to prove. This is a potential playoff matchup that should carry some weight even this early in the season.

November 29th vs. San Antonio

The Spurs held a two game edge in the playoffs last year against the Thunder, but could not hold on and fell in the Western Conference Finals. These two teams almost met last season in the Finals and this game should give some idea of how that series could have went.

Final Record: 11-3

Wins: Celtics, Knicks, Nuggets, Suns(2), Nets, Grizzlies, Rockets, Bucks, Cavaliers, Spurs

Losses: Hawks, Clippers, Nuggets.

Factors

Best One-on-One Matchup of October and November:

LeBron James and Paul Pierce have faced each other countless times on the court both in the regular season and in the playoffs. They play physical and go right at each other, which is exactly what should happen when they open the season in Miami.

Miami Heat have best case scenario in October and November if:

They win five games of their six-game road trip in the middle of November. They will face four playoff teams during that stretch and have two back to backs. If they only manage to drop one of those games then it will be a huge boost and give the Heat big momentum.

Miami Heat have worst case scenario in October and November if:

They fail to beat playoff teams. The Heat have a total of eight games against playoff teams during these months and they need to win those games. Beating inferior competition is fine, but in order to truly send a message, the Heat need to dispose of the tough teams.

The Heat don't have an easy start to their season as they begin with Boston and New York and take off on their six game road trip soon after. Considering that their team is even better than it was last season, and with Wade and Bosh coming back fully healthy, they should get off to a strong start.

December List of Games

December 1st vs Brooklyn Nets

December 4th @ Washington Wizards

December 6th vs. New York Knicks

December 8th vs. New Orleans Hornets

December 10th vs. Atlanta Hawks

December 12th vs. Golden State Warriors

December 15th vs. Washington Wizards

December 18th vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

December 20st @ Dallas Mavericks

December 22nd vs. Utah Jazz

December 25th vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

December 26th @ Charlotte Bobcats

December 28th @ Detroit Pistons

December 29th @ Milwaukee Bucks

December 31st @ Orlando Magic

Key Games and Predictions

December 6th vs. New York Knicks

One month into the season there should be no signs of rust left, and there are no excuses for this matchup. There is a chance that both teams will be near the top of the conference at this point, which will only add excitement to this matchup.

December 25h vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

This is by far the biggest game of the year. Christmas Day will feature the rematch of the NBA Finals as well as the matchup between LeBron James and Kevin Durant. This will be played in Miami, and you can count on it being a sellout. This is the game most NBA fans will be tuning into on Christmas. 

Final Record: 13-2

Wins: Nets, Wizards (2), Hornets, Hawks, Warriors, Wizards, Mavericks, Jazz, Thunder, Bobcats, Pistons, Bucks, Magic. 

Losses: Knicks, Timberwolves.

Factors

Best One-on-One Matchup of December:

Kevin Durant and LeBron James are two of the best basketball players in the entire world. They went back and forth in the Finals, and this will be their first meeting since Game 5 in Miami. Expect a ton of highlights and big shots from both.

Miami Heat have best case scenario in December if:

They defend their home arena. The Heat play a total of nine games at home in December. If they manage to go 8-1 or even 7-2, they will have a great month considering that they only face two playoffs teams away.

Miami Heat have worst case scenario in December:

They flop against the sub-par teams. Miami is set to face nine teams in December that did not make the postseason. Should they drop more than three of those games, then they will finish with a poor record for the month.

December should be a dominant month for the Heat. They don't face too many great teams, but do play a lot of games at home. Their toughest game will be against OKC, but they have a two-day break leading up to it which should make it a lot easier.

January List of Games

January 2 vs. Dallas Mavericks

January 4 vs. Chicago Bulls

January 6 vs. Washington Wizards

January 8 @ Indiana Pacers

January 10 @ Portland Trailblazers

January 12 @ Sacramento Kings

January 14 @ Utah Jazz

January 16 @ Golden State Warriors

January 17 @ LA Lakers

January 23 vs. Toronto Raptors

January 25 vs. Detroit Pistons

January 27 @ Boston Celtics

January 30 @ Brooklyn Nets

Key Games and Predictions

January 8th @ Indiana Pacers

The Pacers shocked many when they pushed the Heat to a tough six games during the playoffs, and this will be their first meeting since. Roy Hibbert is still a matchup problem for the Heat, and the added talent around him will only make this game tougher for Miami.

January 17th @ LA Lakers

A game some think could be a Finals preview: the Lakers face the Heat with the help of Steve Nash, and this might make Bynum and Gasol especially dangerous due to Nash's mastery of the pick and roll. LA could seriously exploit a lot of the weaknesses Miami has on the inside.

January 27th @ Boston

Miami travels to TD Garden for the first time during this matchup and the crowd should have no mercy. Rondo will still be a mismatch for the Heat, and the rookie additions should already be used to their new roles providing more problems for Miami.

Final Record: 10-3

Wins: Mavericks, Bulls, Wizards, Trailblazers, Kings, Jazz, Warriors, Raptors, Pistons, Nets.

Losses: Pacers, Lakers, Celtics.

Factors

Best One-on-One Matchup of January:

This one is easy to call. Kobe Bryant is one of the best players to ever play the game, and LeBron is the best player currently in the NBA. Every time these two square off, they put on a show. Whoever wins the individual battle should take the game.

Miami Heat have best case scenario in January if:

They beat at least one of the top teams in the league. Celtics, Lakers, and Pacers are three tough games, and if the Heat can at least win one, then they should finish with a very strong record for the month.

Miami Heat have worst case scenario in January if:

They drop more than three games away from home. The Heat play seven games away, and should they start dropping multiple games away, this will not be a pretty month for Miami.

The Heat will get some tests this month when they face Indiana and the Lakers for the first time this season. Those games will push Miami and should give a nice preview of potential playoff match ups.

February List of Games

February 1st @ Indiana Pacers

February 3rd @ Toronto Raptors

February 4th vs. Charlotte Bobcats

February 6th vs. Houston Rockets

February 8th vs. LA Clippers

February 10th vs. LA Lakers

February 12th vs. Portland Trailblazers

February 14th @ Oklahoma City Thunder

February 20th @ Atlanta Hawks

February 21st @ Chicago Bulls

February 23rd @ Philadelphia 76ers

February 24th vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

February 26th vs. Sacramento Kings

Key Games and Predictions

February 1st @ Indiana Pacers

In a little under a month, the Heat step back into Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The crowd in Indiana will be ready, and this game should have a playoff atmosphere. At this point, the standings should have both teams near the top, and they will need any edge they can get in playoff the picture.

February 10th vs. LA Lakers

Again they face a tough opponent just a few weeks after facing them away. This time the Lakers step into American Airlines Arena, and in their second meeting, both teams will be a little more familiar with each other. That should only add to the excitement factor of this game.

February 14th at Oklahoma City Thunder

Now the Heat travel to Oklahoma to take on their Finals and Christmas Day opponent. The crowd will be a huge factor in this game as OKC sports the best home court advantage in the NBA. This will make things very tough for Miami, look for a close game here.

Final Record: 10-3

Wins: Raptors, Bobcats, Rockets, Clippers, Lakers, Trailblazers, Hawks, Bulls, Cavaliers, Sacramento. 

Losses: Pacers, Thunder, Sixers.

Factors

Best One-on-One Matchup of February:

Kevin Durant and LeBron James meet again, and it will be another highly covered duel. Two great players, two great teams, and one great game.

Miami Heat have best case scenario in February if:

They win three games of their four-game road trip which will feature the Thunder, Hawks, Bulls, and the Sixers. If they win three, then this month could be special.

Miami Heat have worst case scenario in February if:

They don't defend their homecourt. Before the three-game road trip, the Heat have five games at home, and if they drop two or three, then they will lose the needed momentum. If they go away on a losing streak, then February will get ugly.

Pacers, Clippers, Lakers, and OKC are tough teams to take on in one short month. Throw in the Hawks and Sixers, and this month could be a bad one for the Heat. I see them getting in stride and pulling off some deciding wins, not losing by double digits more than once.

March List of Games

March 1 vs. Memphis  

March 3 @ New York 1

March 4 @ Minnesota 8

March 6 vs. Orlando  

March 8th vs. Philadelphia 76ers

March 10th vs. Indiana Pacers

March 12th vs. Atlanta Hawks

March 13th @ Philadelphia 76ers

March 15th @ Milwaukee Bucks

March 17th @ Toronto Raptors

March 18th @ Boston Celtics

March 20th @ Cleveland Cavaliers

March 22th vs. Detroit Pistons

March 24th vs. Charlotte Bobcats

March 25th @ Orlando Magic

March 27th @ Chicago Bulls

March 29th @ New Orleans Hornets

March 31th @ San Antonio Spurs 

Key Games and Predictions

March 2th at Cleveland Cavaliers

This will be LeBron's first game in Cleveland after winning the NBA Championship, so there is a strong possibility this will be the most hostile crowd LeBron faces this season. Last year, the fans were laughing at his failure, this year they will be furious at his success.

March 31st at San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs should be in the West's top three at this point, and the Heat will be in the same position in the East. This will be the ultimate battle of superpowers heading into the last month of the season.

Final Record: 14-4

Wins: Grizzlies, Knicks, Timberwolves, Magic(2), Sixers, Pacers, Hawks, Bucks, Raptors, Pistons, Bobcats, Bulls, Hornets.

Losses: Sixers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Spurs.

Factors

Best One-on-One Matchup of March:

Paul Pierce and LeBron meet again, and it will be another tough affair. Two great players with completely different playing styles will try to outdo the another. Considering that this is towards the end of the season, this should be even more competitive than their previous meetings.

Miami Heat have best case scenario in March if:

They pace themselves and not beat their bodies up. The Heat play 18 games this month and have two occasions of consecutive-day away games. The risk of injury is high, and if they stay healthy they will play just fine.

Miami Heat have worst case scenario in March if:

They can't beat playoff teams. The Heat are set to face 12 playoff teams from the past season in March. They can't afford to lose those types of games this close to the playoffs.

This will be one long month for the Heat, but will prepare them nicely for the playoffs. The road trips will be hard, but Miami should not drop more than a handful of games. Overall, the toughest part of March will be staying healthy.

April List of Games

April 2nd vs. New York Knicks

April 5th @ Charlotte Bobcats

April 6th vs. Philadelphia 76ers

April 9th vs. Milwaukee Bucks

April 10th @ Washington Wizards

April 12th vs. Boston Celtics

April 14th vs. Chicago Bulls

April 15th @ Cleveland Cavaliers

April 17th vs. Orlando Magic

Key Games and Predictions

April 2nd vs. New York Knicks

This is the final month of the season, and these two teams have a good chance to meet yet again in the playoffs. This is their last chance to send a message, and both sides should take advantage of that.

April 12th vs. Boston Celtics

If Boston really wants another title run, they have to show it in April and beat the Heat. However, this is a playoff game for Miami and will get them ready for the first round and onward. A low-scoring, defensive affair is just the type of game fans want to see.

Final Record: 8-1

Wins: Knicks, Bobcats, Sixers, Bucks, Wizards, Celtics, Bulls, Cavaliers, Magic.

Losses: Bulls

Factors

Best One-on-One Matchup of February:

Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. Olympic teammates will now be fierce enemies in their final meeting of the season. They can both take over the game, and Carmelo still has something to prove to the world after an embarrassing five game beat down at the hands of Miami last season.

Miami Heat have best case scenario in April if:

They beat New York and Boston. Both teams will put up a fight, but winning those games will give Miami momentum and carry over into the playoffs.

Miami Heat have worst case scenario in February if:

They go on a losing streak. The month only has nine games and a losing streak of three or more will be disastrous. If they lose they need to make sure that it's only one loss.

One month before the playoffs, and the Heat will be locked in. I would not be surprised to see them sit out some starters towards the end of the month if their position is secure. A lot of games at home will make this month the easiest of the year by far.

Final Analysis

Final Record: 66-16

This is going to be a historic year in Miami. I am looking for them to follow up their Championship by dominating the league in the same way many predicted two years ago.

They are not a perfect team, but they don't need to be. They have LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. When combined with other solid talent off the bench in Udonis Haslem, Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, this team becomes very scary.

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