Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker directs the offense against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 11, 2015 in Charlotte, N.C. Sacramento won 113-106. Walker returned to action after missing six weeks due to an injury (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
The official 2015-16 schedule for every team in the NBA was released on Wednesday evening, including the Charlotte Hornets.
Michael Jordan's squad looks completely different compared to last year's disappointment, and they'll waste no time trying to prove it with a big game against the Miami Heat on October 28.
Here's a look at why that match-up is already worth discussing, per Bleacher Report's Timothy Rapp:
"Miami represents two tests for Charlotte. First of all, the Heat should be one of the East's better teams if they can stay healthy, with a core of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, Luol Deng and Justise Winslow. But they also are going to likely take away one prospective playoff spot and return to the postseason after missing out on the playoffs last year. That means that the Hornets are in direct competition with the Heat for one of the eight playoff spots in the East, along with the eight teams that actually reached the postseason last year. With several of the teams that failed to reach the postseason looking improved, the competition could be stiff for the bottom-four playoff seeds."
The Hornets aren't better than the Heat, but kicking off their season with a win might help set the tone for a team that desperately wants to make the playoffs.
(h/t: Bleacher Report)
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