Ranking Every NBA Team's Odds to Dethrone the Miami Heat in 2012-13

Every NBA team has its sights clearly set on the Miami Heat as we head toward the start of the 2012-13 season.

No team wants the Heat to repeat as NBA champions, because that means they'll have to wait another year to hoist the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

Right now, every NBA team thinks it is capable of competing for the 2013 title, but some teams, like the L.A. Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets, are better equipped than others.

Ahead is a ranking of every NBA team's odds to dethrone the Miami Heat in the 2012-13 season.

30. Orlando Magic

It's shocking to see a listing of NBA teams where the Charlotte Bobcats don't bring up the rear. But since the Dwight Howard debacle in Orlando, the Magic have quickly become the worst team in the NBA.

There is nearly a zero percent chance that the Magic will compete with anyone in the NBA—especially the Miami Heat.

Without Dwight Howard and Ryan Anderson, the Magic have a lot of holes to fill in their lineup, and the talent they feel is their future certainly isn't ready to get the job done. Players like Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington certainly aren't going to pick up where Howard left off.

It's going to be a long year in Orlando.

Odds: 50-1 

29. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets went all in to get Dwight Howard and fell flat on their face. Fortunately, the Rockets were able to acquire Jeremy Lin to make up for overpaying Omer Asik this offseason.

With that being said, there is no way the Rockets will remain competitive in the powerful and loaded Western Conference. The Rockets certainly won't be in a place to keep the Heat from repeating as NBA champions this season.

While the Rockets have a solid core of young talent for the future, there is no doubt that they will be one of the worst teams in the Western Conference this year. It's rebuilding time for the Rockets.

Odds: 50-1

28. Charlotte Bobcats

In a shocking turn of events, the Charlotte Bobcats aren't the first team you see on a 30-team ranking. That doesn't mean they will be a threat to the mighty Miami Heat.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is going to be a special player. His athleticism and motor are through the roof, and the intensity he brings to the game is second to none. Once he matures physically and fits more into his 6'7" frame, he will be a player who can truly make a difference for the Bobcats.

With that being said, the 2012-13 season won't be an easy one for the Bobcats. They will struggle to compete yet again, especially when they face elite teams like the Miami Heat.

The Bobcats don't have enough talent to match up with the Heat, or most teams in the NBA for that matter. The Bobcats are getting better, but they need a bit more time to develop.

Odds: 50-1

27. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors have Kyle Lowry at the point, and that makes them a better team, but it doesn't help them at all when it comes to competing with LeBron James and Co.

With Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors will be competitive at times, but they still need to build more chemistry to be a team that can compete with the best of the best in the NBA.

They just don't have enough size or speed to keep the Heat from running in transition, and they don't have enough offensive production to be competitive with the Heat either.

The Raptors are stuck in mediocrity, and their fortunes won't be changing anytime soon.

Odds: 45-1

26. Detroit Pistons

Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond are going to grow into a nice duo for the Pistons, and once that happens they will be able to compete with teams like the Miami Heat.

Unfortunately for the Pistons, that duo is going to need some serious time together to develop before they reach that next level.

The Pistons have some nice pieces in place with Brandon Knight and Jonas Jerebko, but chemistry is key when you are going up against the best of the best in the NBA, and that's something the Pistons just don't have yet.

Odds: 45-1

25. Sacramento Kings

Everything inside me wants to believe that the Kings, with Tyreke Evans, Isaiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins, can be a legitimate team in the West this year. In reality, I know that's not true, simply because they don't have enough leadership.

The Kings don't have a leader on the court, and that's exactly what holds them back from progressing as a franchise.

Until the Kings acquire a veteran player who can transform their locker room and their mentality, the Kings will be stuck in mediocrity.

Competing with the Miami Heat for the 2013 NBA title certainly isn't something that will be in the Kings' immediate future.

Odds: 45-1

24. Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are a wild card at this point heading into the 2012-13 season. A major piece of their success rides on the shoulders of Andrew Bogut and his transition to their team.

If Bogut can stay healthy, the Warriors will be better than they were last season, but even with him they won't be able to compete at a high level throughout the entirety of the season.

If Harrison Barnes can develop into a productive sixth man, the Warriors can quickly become a better team, but I don't see that happening quite yet.

Things are changing in Golden State, but they won't be able to compete on the same level as the Miami Heat for another year or two.

Odds: 40-1

23. Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns went from a team without an identity, once they lost Steve Nash, to being a team with a lot of excitement heading into the 2012-13 season.

With Goran Dragic, Michael Beasley, Kendall Marshall and Luis Scola, the Suns have a bunch of talent. The only question is how well that group of players will be able to play together.

Chemistry will be a major question for the Suns next season, and without a true leader on their team, the 2012-13 season won't be an easy one for them. The excitement will die down quickly once they don't see results in the wins column.

A team without an identity and without chemistry certainly can't compete with a team like the Heat, and that's where the Suns will find themselves.

Odds: 40-1

22. Washington Wizards

Bradley Beal and John Wall are going to be a fearsome backcourt duo, but it is going to take some time for them to develop.

With Nene Hilario holding down the paint, the Wizards are going to be much better than most experts think, but they won't be able to compete with the elite teams in the NBA.

The Wizards will certainly be a competitive team this season, mainly because of the youth they have mixed with the experience of some veteran players on their team.

While the Wizards might be able to hang with the Heat for a quarter or two, ultimately the Heat's chemistry will be too much for their young team to handle. A season sweep at the hands of the Heat is in store for the Wizards.

Odds: 35-1

21. New Orleans Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets are a young and exciting team, with two lottery picks in Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers leading the way.

Unfortunately, it looks like Davis is the only one of those picks who is going to have any resemblance of an impact this season for the Hornets.

Youth is a positive and a negative for the Hornets. On one hand, they have a lot of potential, but on the other hand, their lack of experience together will hold them back against better teams in the NBA, like the Miami Heat.

The Hornets will be a surprisingly competitive team this season as long as Davis develops as expected. Keeping the Heat from a repeat title, though, is a different story.

Odds: 35-1

20. Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are one of those teams that just can't seem to get past mediocrity.

With Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings holding down the backcourt and Ersan Ilyasova and Drew Gooden holding down the frontcourt, the Bucks, on paper, should be a very good team.

Unfortunately, that rotation doesn't translate into success, mainly because Ellis and Jennings put up too many low-percentage shots for the Bucks to win on a regular basis.

The Heat feed off inefficient teams, and that is exactly what the Bucks are.

Odds: 30-1

19. Utah Jazz

Losing Devin Harris and adding Mo Williams at the point guard position doesn't do much in helping the Utah Jazz become a better team than they were last year.

With Derrick Favors, Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, the Jazz will be able to give the Heat some trouble, but the Jazz's lack of perimeter offense will ultimately be what holds them back.

The Jazz need some backcourt depth if they want to compete with teams like the Heat, and with the talent on their roster, that's something they certainly don't have.

The Jazz could pull off a win or two against the Heat over the 2012-13 season, but they won't be a major obstacle to a Heat repeat next year.

Odds: 30-1

18. Cleveland Cavaliers

Seeing a Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat first-round playoff series is every NBA fan's dream, and while it's not out of the realm of possibility, the Cavaliers will most likely fall short.

With a talented, young roster, the Cavaliers can be a dangerous team in the East, but it all depends on the development of their frontcourt talent, including Tyler Zeller and Tristan Thompson.

There's no doubt that Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving will be a dynamic tandem, but if the frontcourt can't hold their own, the Cavaliers won't take a step forward next year.

The Cavaliers will be competitive with the Heat when they meet, but a playoff matchup won't happen. The Cavaliers just aren't good enough for that right now.

Odds: 25-1

17. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers will be one of the biggest surprises of the 2012-13 season.

If the 2012 Summer League was any indication of how good Damian Lillard will be, the Blazers can sleep well knowing they made one of the best picks of the 2012 NBA draft.

The development of Meyers Leonard will be important, but having LaMarcus Aldridge and bringing back Nicolas Batum will be major factors in the Blazers being a surprisingly strong team in the West next year.

The Blazers are a team that could give the Heat some trouble because of their frontcourt size and their speed and production at the point. In a few years the Blazers will be major players in the West, but for now they will be on the outside looking in come time for the 2012 NBA playoffs.

Odds: 25-1

16. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks made a major upgrade by acquiring Devin Harris this offseason, but losing Joe Johnson will mean more than most think.

Johnson wasn't an irreplaceable player, but the Hawks don't have anyone on their roster to produce at the level he did at the shooting guard position. Lou Williams is good, but his inefficiency will hold him back, much like it held Johnson back at times throughout his career with the Hawks.

If Al Horford can stay healthy and the Hawks can keep Josh Smith happy, there is no doubt that the Hawks can be a playoff team next year, but being a stumbling block for the Heat is a different story.

On paper the Hawks should hang with the Heat, but in reality they don't have enough chemistry, and adding Harris and Williams to that mix will only add to their lack of chemistry throughout the 2012-13 season.

Odds: 25-1

15. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks saved their offseason by acquiring Darren Collison, O.J. Mayo, Elton Brand and Chris Kaman.

The only problem with that core of talent is that in the frontcourt it doesn't help the Mavericks get any younger or more physical in many respects. Their backcourt is without a doubt better than it was last year, but Collison and Mayo's inefficiency could certainly be an issue.

When it comes to hanging with the Heat, though, the Mavericks need depth, and losing Jason Terry will certainly hurt that.

The Heat will struggle early against the Mavericks and their starting rotation, but over the span of a game or even a series, the Heat's bench depth will be too much for the Mavericks to handle.

Odds: 20-1

14. Chicago Bulls

The verdict is out on when Derrick Rose will be returning to the Chicago Bulls' starting lineup, but even when he returns, his health may not be at 100 percent, and that will be an issue for the Bulls.

Rose needs time to get back to the speed of the game, and that will be a reason why the Bulls struggle next season more than you might expect. Even with Rose back, the Bulls will need to pick up their production around him, and that's something they will struggle to do.

Kirk Heinrich will help at the point, and Marco Belinelli will help at the shooting guard position, but the Heat will be able to control the Bulls and the pace of the game, especially when Rose isn't available.

The Bulls are a team that could give the Heat some troubles, but as we've seen before, even with Rose the Bulls have a difficult time overcoming the dominance of the Heat. That much won't change during the 2012-13 season.

Odds: 15-1

13. Indiana Pacers

The 2012-13 Indiana Pacers look almost identical to their 2011-12 team, aside from losing Darren Collison and acquiring Miles Plumlee and Orlando Johnson through the draft, and that's good news for a team that almost knocked the Heat out of the playoffs last year.

The Pacers success rides squarely on the continued development of big man Roy Hibbert in the paint.

Against the Heat last season, Hibbert played well, but he wasn't as dominant as his team needed him to be against players like Joel Anthony, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem.

The Pacers will take a step back this season, and it won't be because they aren't as good of a team as last year. It will be because Hibbert isn't ready to be the team's leader. Until Hibbert transitions into that role, the Pacers will be stuck in mediocrity, which includes getting beat by the Heat.

Odds: 13-1

12. Minnesota Timberwolves

As long as Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio can stay healthy, the Minnesota Timberwolves can shock a lot of teams in the NBA next season.

With Brandon Roy returning to the NBA and joining a very talented Timberwolves roster, the sky is the limit for Minnesota this season.

The Timberwolves have one thing that the Heat consistently struggle with, and that is an ability to spread the floor and also dominate in the paint. When Love is hitting three-pointers and Nikola Pekovic is holding down the painted area, the Timberwolves are going to be hard to beat.

Lack of experience will ultimately hold the Timberwolves back, but don't be shocked if they give the Heat a run for their money a few times during the 2012-13 season. It might just be Love's time to take that MVP away from LeBron.

Odds: 11-1

11. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers made a huge upgrade when they pulled off one of the trades of the century and landed Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson, basically for Andre Iguodala.

While Bynum and Richardson will be nice pieces of the 76ers rotation this season, losing Iguodala will mean a lot more than most think. Iguodala was a leader, and he was also one of the best lockdown defenders in the NBA.

Offensively, the 76ers will be fine, and having Bynum in the paint will help them on the defensive side of the ball. But losing Iguodala's defensive talents, especially when it comes to stopping LeBron or Dwyane Wade, will have a big impact next on the 76ers next season.

The 76ers will be able to hang with the Heat, but beating them over the span of a seven-game series is a different story. Much like last season, the 76ers will falter against the stronger and more talented Miami Heat.

Odds: 10-1

10. San Antonio Spurs

Gregg Popovich is always going to put a competitive and dangerous team on the court, especially when he has Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker leading the way.

Like last season, the Spurs will certainly be competitive with the Heat, but they don't have enough defensive pressure to overpower them in a seven-game series.

With Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis coming off the bench, the Heat have a deeper lineup than the Spurs, and their bench production will ultimately be the big difference-maker in this matchup.

The Spurs are a solid team, but age is going to catch up with them this season, and in terms of success they will take a step back, which means not being as big of a threat to the Heat as they were in previous years.

Odds: 10-1

9. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets, with their "core four," are an exponentially better team than they were last season.

With Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and Brook Lopez, the Nets have one of the best starting lineups in the entire league, and they also have an impressive balance of offensive production and defensive prowess.

The Nets will compete with the Heat, and that's mainly because they have enough defensive pressure to continually slow them down in transition. The biggest matchup in a Nets vs. Heat series would be the point guard battle between Mario Chalmers and Deron Williams.

Ultimately, the Nets have the advantage at the point and at the center position, but at every other position, the Heat are still the superior team. The Nets are on their way to being a dominant NBA team, and that will include giving the Heat some serious issues this season.

Odds: 8-1

8. Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are the same team as last year, minus the talents of O.J. Mayo, which might be a blessing in disguise.

Losing Mayo will open up time for both Tony Wroten and Josh Selby at the shooting guard position, and if those players continue to develop as expected, the Grizzlies will be a better team during the 2012-13 season than they were last season.

The Heat will struggle against the Grizzlies, mainly because their frontcourt tandem of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies won't struggle offensively against the Heat. The only question is who on the Grizzlies will step up and play lockdown defense on the Heat's dynamic duo of LeBron and Wade.

The Grizzlies are a team to watch heading into next season that could make some serious noise in the Western Conference, and they are a team that could be a major obstacle to the Heat's repeat in 2013.

Odds: 8-1

7. New York Knicks

For the first time in a while, both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets are going to be legitimate playoff contenders coming out of the Eastern Conference.

Adding Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd doesn't help the Knicks that much against the Heat. But acquiring Marcus Camby certainly does. Having Camby and Tyson Chandler on the same team ensures size and depth in the paint, and that is something that the Heat struggled with throughout last season.

With that being said, the Knicks need Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire to develop some semblance of chemistry if they are going to hang with the Heat next year.

With a deep, veteran roster, the Knicks have all the right pieces in place to get in the way of a Heat repeat. The only question is whether Amar'e or Melo will actually step up and lead the team.

Odds: 7-1

6. Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets almost knocked the L.A. Lakers out of the playoffs last season, and they did that by doing exactly what the Heat do: beat teams in transition.

The Nuggets might be one of the most exciting and offensively explosive teams in the NBA next season, and with Andre Miller coming back, they have the veteran leadership they need to succeed.

With Andre Iguodala on the wing, the Nuggets now have that lockdown defender they never had, and that will be crucial to keeping the Heat from the 2013 NBA title. Defense is what the Nuggets lacked last season, but with Iguodala now, the Nuggets will have a different mindset heading into next year.

Ultimately, in a seven-game series, the Heat would beat the Nuggets because of their star talent and the depth of their bench. Don't be shocked, though, if the Nuggets are one of the teams that give the Heat the most problems throughout the 2012-13 season.

The Nuggets have the blueprint to beat the Heat, as long as their defense is up to par. 

Odds: 6-1

5. L.A. Clippers

The L.A. Clippers lost a lot of talent from last season, but luckily for them they adequately reloaded with players like Lamar Odom, Chauncey Billups, Jamal Crawford and Grant Hill.

Last season the Clippers gave the Heat some trouble during the regular season, and that's exactly what the Clippers will do during the 2012-13 season.

As long as Blake Griffin can stay healthy and DeAndre Jordan continues to develop, there's no doubt that the Clippers will be one of the Heat's toughest opponents. Like most other teams, the Clippers' biggest need will be to find defenders who can slow down LeBron and Wade.

If the Clippers stay healthy, they will be one of the few elite teams in the NBA next year, and that means they will be in a prime place to keep the Heat from the 2013 NBA title. The Clippers match up well with the Heat at every position, and if their defensive focus can improve, they can compete with the Heat—even in a seven-game series.

Odds: 5-1

4. Boston Celtics

At the end of the 2011-12 season it looked like it was time for the Boston Celtics to rebuild. But it's now clear that the Celtics had different plans.

With the acquisition of Jason Terry and Courtney Lee and re-signing of Brandon Bass and Kevin Garnett, the Celtics have reloaded and are now poised to compete with every team in the East yet again.

The Celtics will need Rajon Rondo to become more of a leader than he already is, and if he can do that, the Celtics will be one of the Heat's fiercest competitors next season.

If the Celtics rookies can develop quickly, they can match up with the Heat's lineup extremely well. If not, the Celtics will be banking on the continued development of Avery Bradley to solidify their bench. Depth is key to beating the Heat, and that's something the Celtics certainly have. It's just a question of of how deep their bench will truly be.

Odds: 5-1

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder came closer than any other NBA team last year to keeping the Heat from the 2012 NBA title. Unfortunately, they fell a bit short, and it was mainly because a lack of depth on their bench.

While the Thunder added Perry Jones III to their bench, they didn't make any other additions, and that is why they aren't any higher on this list.

With Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, there is no doubt that the Thunder will compete with the Heat and be one of their biggest challenges to repeating this year. The Heat know how to beat the Thunder, though, and the Thunder didn't do anything this offseason to change that.

Until the Thunder add more depth and talent to their bench, they won't be able to keep the Heat from repeating as NBA champions, which would all but set them up as the next great dynasty in the NBA.

Odds: 2-1

2. L.A. Lakers

Aside from the Miami Heat themselves, the L.A. Lakers pose the greatest risk to a Heat repeat this year.

With Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, the Lakers have a seriously talented starting lineup, and they also have quality depth on their bench. If Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks can solidify the Lakers bench, they will be a very dangerous team.

The Heat and the Lakers are on a collision course for an appearance in the 2013 NBA Finals, and while that is a matchup all NBA fans would love to see, it is a matchup that would be hard for the Heat to overcome.

The Heat simply won't have an answer for Dwight Howard in the paint unless LeBron decides to replicate Magic Johnson's epic 1980 performance playing at the center position. LeBron certainly will do anything it takes to repeat as an NBA champion, and guarding Howard might be something he will have to consider.

There is no team better equipped to keep the Heat from back-to-back championships than the L.A. Lakers. The only question is if the Lakers will have enough chemistry to do it.

Odds: 1-1

1. Miami Heat

Yes, I know this article is about teams that can keep the Miami Heat from repeating as NBA champions next season.

The reason why the Heat are on this list is because they are their biggest enemy. Last season we all saw how dominant LeBron and company were when they were firing on all cylinders. No one could stop them—and the same will be true for the 2012-13 season.

The Heat need to focus on remaining one cohesive unit throughout next season, and if they do, there are truly no teams that can stand in their way of being back-to-back NBA champions.