Miami Heat hosting LeBron James, Cavaliers on Christmas
By Bryan Rose
There have been rumors leaking for weeks that LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers will open the season against the San Antonio Spurs in the Alamo. It’s a wonderful matchup, though, it’s unlikely to be Cleveland’s most anticipated game of the season.
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That will most likely come when James returns to his former stomping grounds in South Beach, which just so happens to be a national television game. You didn’t think the NBA would have it any differently, did you?
According to the Sun Sentential, it’s expected that James’ first meeting against the Miami Heat will take place on Christmas Day – one of four contests between the two franchises this season.
"According to a league source familiar with the preliminary schedules forwarded recently to teams, the Heat’s first meeting with James’ Cavaliers is scheduled for Christmas at AmericanAirlines Arena, in what the preliminary schedule lists only as a “night” game."
The preliminary schedule also lists a second South Beach return for James on March 16th while the Miami Heat will travel to Cleveland where they’ll take on the Cavaliers on February 11th and April 2nd.
A Christmas matchup is an obvious choice for the NBA considering those games are some of the most widely watched contests of the season in a normal scenario. Add in LeBron James’ return to the Miami Heat and you have a perfect recipe.
Of course, I’m not sure people booing LeBron James (which you know will happen) is the most festive of things to broadcast, though considering the profits available for the league, I’m guessing they won’t mind.