Lose LeBron James? The Heat were still a big deal.
Lose Dwyane Wade, too? Miami is getting a little less attention.
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel:
This would be the Heat’s first Christmas without a game since 2008. That was the NBA’s second-longest streak of Christmas games behind the Lakers, who’ve played every Dec. 25 since 1999.
Could that run also end? The Lakers have been awful the last couple years, and they project to be bad – though less bad – again this year.
Of course, Los Angeles is a far bigger market than Miami. The Lakers will get much more margin for error.