NBA Blogs

Thunder 98 @ Heat 104

The Heat got it done from not only their Big 3, but had others step up in this big win that puts them up the deathly 3-1 lead. Chris Bosh getting a ring makes me laugh, yet it won’t be a joke as Lebron, Wade, and Pat Riley smell the ham and are ready to serve. (I don’t know what I said either)

Russell Westbrook EXPLODED in this game. If you saw it, you witnessed absolute destruction from Russell. These were not quiet points people. Russell made TWENTY shots on 32 attempts from the field (no 3’s) for an incredible 43 points as his parents watched from the bleachers. Durant (28 points) and Russell were holding this team together against Bron and co.

Once again, when it was all said and done, the game came down to the last few shots and possessions. Simply, the Thunder made too many mistakes that can’t be made in the finals:

-Sefolosha really blew it taking a quick 3 pointer with OKC down by 3 with about a minute left. He got blocked by Wade and it was a silly shot that lost OKC a critical possession. When you’re down in the NBA Finals, you give it to your best players. Everybody knows it, deal with the consequences.

-Harden loses to Haslem in jump-ball, 17 second game clock, 5 second shot clock, 17-5 =12 seconds. Westbrook fouls instead of playing defence which leads to two made free throws by Mario Chalmers. Westbrook has to learn from this year, as there will be plenty of tape in the near future highlighting all these clumsy mistakes the Thunder have made in this NBA Finals. It’s unusual that a team would make this many mistakes and still have found their way to the grand stage, which is why this Finals won’t be forgotten, as we’ve seen the inexperience come out at the worst time of the year.

Chalmers and Cole played spectacular. The Heat have used Battier’s spark from downtown in the past few games to give them that lift, and last night it was Cole and Chalmers that produced from behind the arc. The Big 3 (Heat) aren’t the most efficient 3 point shooters to say the least, which means that they need guys around them to step up. Cole ended the first huge and started the second with a bang, helping the Heat trim the Thunders lead to three going into half-time. Then second half was all Chalmers at the 1 spot for the Heat as he had 19 second half points including 12 in his spectacular fourth quarter, 25 to finish the game. Mario just took the game into his hands when Lebron hurt his knee, slithering his way into the paint to get easy layups. I give the MIA point guards A+ grades in this game four, series turner.

Bron left the game in the fourth and watched from the sidelines for a few minutes, comes back in, and nails a three. This was unbelievable and won’t be forgotten in Finals history. I was speechless. 26 points, 12 assists, 9 rebounds, 10/20 shooting, and 2 steals. Somebody call an ambulance, he’s been on fire since April. People often compare James to Scottie Pippen, but in this one, he looked a lot like Magic Johnson. Creating for others and playing so efficiently all-around.  

D-Wade played like a gem himself. He not only played hard on the offensive end, it was on the other side that motivated the Heat. Guarding Durant, Westbrook, and Harden throughout, and having 2 blocks (one was unforgettable on Fisher), and 2 steals to go along with his 25 points was undeniably game changing.

Bosh was nice as well. Playing within the team and doing things that Skip Bayless has been criticizing him on for not doing since last season. Rebounding and playing like seven-footer. I didn’t see him hover around the 3 point line in this one as he didn’t shoot a single 3. Good for you Bosh, good for you.

Serge who? Where? I barely notice him on the floor. This guy needs to find his role on defence before it finds him because he’s been too easy on D. Players are strolling in the lane and this guy is getting a block through 27 minutes of floor time. It’s too bad since the Thunder rely on this guy to make them the best shot-blocking team in the league. Perk and Collison are pretty small, they can bang with the big boys, but they can’t jump. Ibaka, step up. Other than his 5 block game in game two, Serge has been pretty invisible and isn’t helping his team in the way he does through the season.

          It’s looking like Lebron will get the crown. Can the young Thunder be the first team to ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals or will we see our old buddy Chris Bosh, the everyday enemy Lebron James, and the rest of the Miami Wade’s take the crown. Stay tuned, Money Mitch blogs daily.

 (Photo Source:) http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/getty/18/fullj.919f8eb0924f3fc4796433b90ea4daa0/919f8eb0924f3fc4796433b90ea4daa0-getty-146571389.jpg