Fans of the Miami Heat were expecting a very big, exciting Christmas Day in 2022.
That’s because most people assumed the Heat would be participating in a game on December 25, seeing as they are one of the best teams in the league.
However, the schedule for Christmas has leaked and while some of the most prominent teams in the league – such as the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks – are playing, the Heat are nowhere to be seen.
Jimmy Butler led his team 1 game away from the NBA finals, averaging 27 a game in the playoffs just to have the NBA say we’d rather watch Julius Randle and RJ Barrett
— Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) August 15, 2022
Brady Hawk was steamed about the situation, saying on Twitter, “Jimmy Butler led his team 1 game away from the NBA finals, averaging 27 a game in the playoffs just to have the NBA say we’d rather watch Julius Randle and RJ Barrett.”
Hawk has a point: it’s shocking to see a team like the Knicks play on Christmas while the Heat sit out.
At the same time, the NBA knows what it’s doing and no one should be surprised by this schedule.
Not Present On Christmas
It is true that the Heat almost made the Finals last season and were also the best team in the East.
However, the Knicks have something the Heat don’t: a home in the biggest city in America.
New York City is a huge market, just like Los Angeles, so it’s no shock to see the NBA schedule a game featuring the Knicks on Christmas Day.
They don’t want to lose the millions of people watching from New York.
Some would argue that the league should have put the Brooklyn Nets on instead of the Knicks but the truth is we don’t know what sort of star power the Nets will have on Christmas.
This was a strategy to create buzz and bring in viewers, it was nothing personal against the Heat.