MTi's TOP 2011-12 NBA Futures Play 5-Star Miami UNDER 50.5 Wins – The Heat have the beat players in the league. However, they also have the worst schedule in the league this season. In this frenetic-paced season an unrested opponent will be relatively common. However, Miami plays only FIVE games all season in which they are rested vs an unrested opponent. They must play FOURTEEN games in which their opponent is rested and they have no rest. This differential of minus nine is worst in the league.
Also, the Miami Heat host only TWO teams that are playing the second of back-to-back road games all season. This is the fewest in the entire league. To make matters worse, the Heat are unrested themselves in both of those games.
In fact, the Heat get the fewest unrested opponents in the league this season. In their 66 games this season the Miami Heat will face only 11 unrested teams. The Charlotte Bobcats, for example, get 28 teams that played the day before.
In an ordinary NBA season, the Heat would face every team from the West twice; once at home and once on the road. However, in this NBA season, the Heat (like every other Eastern Conference team) will face three teams from the West twice, and every other Western Conference team once. What are the three Western Conference opponents that the Heat have to face twice this season? The Thunder, the Mavs and the Lakers – the three beasts from the West. For comparison, the Chicago Bulls “drew” Memphis, New Orleans and Sacramento. Do you think the schedule-makers have something against the Heat?
The Heat are a veteran, crafty team and will certainly NOT have the goal of winning the most regular season games possible. Their goal is ONLY an NBA championship. They can’t break the Bulls’ record for most regular season wins this season anyway. So, their entire regular season they will simply be waiting for the playoffs. The 66 regular-season games will be like an extended practice in which they try to remain injury-free.
On the other hand, when ANY team faces the Heat, it will be a huge game for them. Everyone is gunning for Miami.
The Heat played hard last regular season – trying to make a case for the best team in the history of the game. They petered out in the finals. They will not make the same mistake this season. Take MIAMI UNDER 50.5 wins
MTi’s FORECAST: Miami 43-23
