Miami Heat Roster and Team News 2015: First 4 Games Will Challenge Team
After all the movement and new contracts that the Miami Heat completed throughout the summer, many believe that they are dark-horse contenders in the NBA's Eastern Conference.
With the core of Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, Chris Bosh, Luol Deng and Hassan Whiteside coming back after a year of adjustments and playing together, it seems that there is an air of positivity in Florida that the Heat have created a great reoster in order to return as one of the top teams.
Add the fact that they got a steal draft pick in Justise Winslow and it has been a great summer in South Beach. With the schedule recently released, the NBA will give them a stern test in their first four matches of the season.
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Miami's curtain-raiser will be against Al Jefferson and the Charlotte Hornets. Last season, the two teams were involved in a battle for the East's eighth spot, with Miami eventually settling for 10th place, while Charlotte was 11th.
Next on hand will be a match against the Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Cavaliers and former Heat star LeBron James.
Since James' move back to Ohio, there has been a lot of excitement in their meetings. Last year, they met four times, with the teams splitting the series 2-2 and both teams winning the games at home.
With Miami's team undoubtedly stronger than last year, it should be interesting what will happen in this early marquee matchup.
For their third game, the Heat will host the Houston Rockets and this is another intriguing match as the Rockets are considered a strong team ready to make a run for the championship. Led by James Harden, the Rockets are a real threat but a good performance by the Heat should help them solidify their place among the elite.
Finally, the four-game stretch ends with a match against the team with the best regular-season record in the East last year – the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks have lost a few key players recently but are still considered one of the best in the conference.
For Wade and the rest of the Heat, these first four matches will help them know just how much potential they have in the coming season.
