With the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule officially revealed, the league has made its stance on the Miami Heat crystal clear. It’s the fact that they don’t believe they’re going to be much of a threat in the Eastern Conference this season.

Despite the strong addition of Norman Powell, it does seem as if the league is down on the Heat. The most recent Christmas Day omission is not surprising by any means, but it does paint an obvious picture of the team’s expectations heading into this next season.

And they’re not high.

In addition to the Christmas Day schedule, ESPN’s Shams Charania also leaked the opening night schedule. As you’d expect, that won’t feature the Heat either.

NBA’s leaked Christmas Day and opening night schedule:
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
Houston Rockets at LA Lakers
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets

NBA’s opening night schedule:
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers

The Heat should embrace the underdog role

Again, none of this should be considered a huge surprise as far as the Heat are concerned. I don’t think there were many that were expecting the Heat to be featured on Christmas Day, much less on opening night.

Still, there’s an opportunity for the team to use this as added motivation heading into the start of the season. The NBA clearly is overlooking them, and they should make it their mission to prove them wrong.

The Heat’s Christmas Day history

Over the course of their existence as a franchise, the Heat has played 14 Christmas Day games. Their first came in 1997, and their last was in 2023. Between 2004 and 2015, the Heat played in 11 out of 12 possible Christmas days.

Since then, though, the Heat has only played in two, during the 2020 season and then again in 2023.

As the Heat prepare for the upcoming season, there will be mild interest surrounding this team. However, with still a talented group in place, there’s going to be an opportunity for Miami to emerge as somewhat of a lovable underdog team.

I don’t believe anyone thinks the Heat can win the Eastern Conference this season, and, to be quite honest, that’s when the Heat has done some of its best work – as an underdog.

It’s clear that there’s a lack of respect for this Heat team. This initial schedule leak is just the next bit of evidence that points it out.