The Miami Heat, like the rest of the NBA, saw their schedule released on Monday. For the most part, it was a ho-hum release for the team. But it's worth noting what their national television schedule looks like for 2017-18. Excluding games on NBA TV (which not every household gets), the team plays just five games on national television all season: four on ESPN and one on TNT near the end of the year.
Heat's national television schedule
It won't take a great amount of time for the Heat to play in front of a national audience. During their fourth game of the season (on October 25), the team will host the San Antonio Spurs on ESPN.
The Spurs are the draw here, though, with MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard coming to town. Miami fans should enjoy the contest because it will be the last time a national audience sees them play in 2017.
Their next ESPN game comes on January 5, when they host the New York Knicks. That's arguably the team's only winnable game on national television this season. They have a road game at Philadelphia on February 2 on ESPN, but if the Sixers develop the way they're expected to (and stay healthy), that might be another tough draw for the Heat.
The team's last ESPN game comes on March 12, when they travel to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Portland Trail Blazers in a contest that will start long after much of Miami is already asleep.
Before the season closes out, TNT throws them a bone by having them host the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 27. Part of that choice likely has to do with the drama surrounding the Cavs right now; all of that choice has to do with LeBron James' annual trip to his former team. That game isn't really for the Heat to soak up the limelight.
Other Heat scheduling notes
Besides the national television disrespect from ESPN and others, the Heat schedule is noteworthy for how strange it is. Immediately after their opener in Orlando, they have a six-game homestand, their longest of the season. Then, they immediately go on the road for a six-game road streak - also their longest of the season - which includes a stop at Golden State.
If the Heat have one thing going for them, however, it's that they never play four games in five nights. In fact, no NBA team needs to deal with that situation for the first time in the history of the league, a direct result of the NBA's smart decision to push the start of the season forward by a few weeks instead of starting it around Halloween.
