The Miami Heat's 2012-2013 season has been marred with lack of effort, a stretch of ten games where six were lost, and a lot of worry over head coach Eric Spoelstra's small ball strategy. Still, the Heat are in first place in the Eastern Conference, and the rival Los Angeles Lakers, who were touted as NBA Finals favorites during the pre-season, are currently six games under .500. It's good to be the kings.
Testing Miami's NBA fandom, the Heat will face off against perennial Eastern Conference losers the Charlotte Bobcats, just one day after Superbowl XLVII. Michael Jordan's Bobcats' sole moment of note since their inception in 2004 was setting the lowest win percentage in NBA history last season. This year has been a bit of an improvement for a team that's trying to stockpile young talent like Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but their only chance of winning this game is if Wade, LeBron, and Bosh still have the smell of Super Bowl BBQ and Coronas on their breath.
Mon., Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., 2013