Miami Heat: Who the team could have faced off against on Christmas

The Miami Heat could have played some good games on Christmas.

As the NBA schedule starts to come out, the Christmas games have been announced.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1027254593812672512

One thing you’ll notice is that the Miami Heat aren’t playing. But let’s be real. If you thought they would be, there’s some land on the planet Mars I’d like to sell you.

The potential seventh seed in the Eastern Conference doesn’t warrant getting a Christmas game. Especially when Toronto Raptors fans are out here willing to sell their souls for some national respect.

And yes, I know the New York Knicks got one. But it’s New York.

Granted, we never think about it from the players’ points of view. At least they’re getting to spend Christmas with their families now.

(But that humanizes professional athletes. And why would we ever do that?)

Regardless, let’s imagine that the Heat did get air time on Christmas. Who would they be playing?

I’ve got some ideas…

Miami Heat at New York Knicks

For all the fans who have some beef with the Knicks getting a Christmas game over the Heat, this is your way to squash it.

Spend your Christmas watching Josh Richardson posterize Kristaps Porzingis.

Obviously this rivalry runs deeper than recent memory serves. In the late 90’s, the Heat and Knicks met in the playoffs four times in a row. The Knicks happened to win three of those, but it also brought some memorable moments, including this gem.

All you need now is for Jeff Van Gundy to commentate on the game.

Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat

When thinking of this story, this was the most obvious matchup in my mind.

Allow LeBron James to come back to Miami for the first time in a Lakers uniform on Christmas, to play his best friend, Dwyane Wade.

No chance that the NBA would embrace that over a Warriors/Lakers matchup, but with Wade still undecided about his future in the NBA, it eliminated this matchup completely.

Still, just imagine it.

Goran Dragic forcing Lonzo Ball to play some real defense. Richardson terrorizing Brandon Ingram. James Johnson fighting back against James in the post. And Hassan Whiteside probably moping on the sideline, as the Heat combat the Lakers’ small ball lineup with Bam Adebayo instead of him.

Philadelphia 76ers/Boston Celtics/Toronto Raptors at Miami Heat

Of course, watching the Heat stack up against the East’s best would be a great Christmas Day match up as well.

With a solid month and change before the trade deadline, playing against the Raptors or Boston Celtics would be the best way to see what moves could or should be made.

Is it time to blow it all up? Can the Heat compete?

Both of these teams are expected to be in the top two seeds of the conference.

Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, and Jaylen Brown.

Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard.

Keep in mind, these are also teams that Miami has faced in the playoffs in recent years.

Can you imagine spending your day off watching the magical flow of Kelly Olynyk’s hair recreating this incredible performance?

But just for the Twitter beef, I’d go with the 76ers’ matchup. What a Christmas gift it would be, to watch Whiteside and Joel Embiid rekindle their rivalry.

These are stocking stuffers for sure.