There are all kinds of intriguing games on the NBA schedule for next season, but one interesting note is which teams will be on national television the most.
The NBA and its TV partners elected to feature the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks a total of 25 times each.
With the release of the 2012-13 NBA schedule, the path has officially been charted for the Miami Heat's title defense.
Miami have a few can't miss games this season, can't even lie. Here are a few that are probably their most interesting matchups.
Oct. 30, Celtic at Heat:
This will be the NBA season opener game and what a way to start off. This has become one of the fiercest rivalries in today's game, and will be played at the AmericanAirlines Areana, the same floor where Miami finished the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Like beating them two post seasons in a row wasn't enough, but the Heat added more flame to the rivalry by adding Ray Allen via free agency from Boston. Allen will be making his first appearance in Boston as a Heat player on Jan. 27.
Christmas Day, Thunder at Miami:
What a great Christmas present, a rematch of last season's NBA Finals clash. After losing Game 1, the Heat coasted to the Game 5 clincher for LeBron's first championship.
Though James and Durant are now teammates competing for Olympic gold, last season's may have even given this generation their own version of the old Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry, which may involve multiple final appearances. It will be interesting to see how both their careers play out going against each over, but one thing for sure is that the fans definitely can't get enough of it.
Whenever Kobe Bryant and LeBron James go head-to-head against another, that is without a doubt a must see game.
The Lakers new revamped offense, with the addition of proven veterans Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison, should provide a spark to a roster that seemed stale.
But that's not all.
Dwight Howard may end up in LA as early as the beginning of the season. So when you factor that into the equation, we may be looking at a possible NBA Finals preview.
The excitement of possibly finally having a Bryant vs. James NBA Finals showdown is what we've all been waiting for deep down in our hearts for the past nine years.