As game four of the NBA Finals is set to kick off today with the Miami Heat leading in the series 2-1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the best of seven series, the match of probability is constantly changing as we speak. From the match ups of players to the interesting young head coaches for both teams, creates a sense of will and desire.
Lebron James of the Miami Heat by far finds himself battling against the young and crafty transitional Oklahoma City Thunder , for now his third appereance to the NBA Finals. Never quite understood the move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the arrival in Miami, but surely he seems to be on the verge of becoming a NBA Champion.With watching his performance this post season, James is clearly on a mission, and has the best overall numbers in the post season despite the higly explosive Kevin Durant for the Oklahoma City Thunder. This NBA finals compared to the past few, seems to be a testament of hunger and gifts by which no coach can teach. Its found in very few players, by who have changed the elements in basketball such as: Micheal Jordan ( Chicago Bulls), Magic Johnson ( Los Angelos Lakers), Larry Bird (Boston Celtics), Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat), Kobe Bryant (Los Angelos Lakers). Theres a difference in being competetive, and being a natural born champion. With watching the first three games of this series, a couple of key decisions stood out clearly from both James and Durant. Understanding these two by far are the hardest to defend on any given night, let alone to try and gaurd for a seven game series in the NBA finals, where they both are playing out of their minds. Lebron James in being the MVP, and Kevin Durant in being the best scorer seems to be a stand off.
With comparing both players and their role on their team, is a big reason on why the Miami Heat could have the harder time in closing out this series, due to the facts. Yes, the Miami Heat are up in this series but the means on what tooks place is crucial in every aspect of this contest. Remembering the late charge by the Thunder in Game 2 in Oklahoma City, were the last play concluded with Lebron James fouling Kevin Durant on the inbound pass for the easy lay up over James, which did not make its way in the basket due to the obvious foul by James who grabbed and hooked Durant's arm. Shortly after, Russel Westbrook went up for the easy put back in the rim off of the missed lap up by Durant in the same possesion, and James got away with a foul grabbing Westbrooks left arm by which was obvious from every angle possible to see. Interesting enough, James interview after the game took place with Doris Burke seemed to be a relief of luck due to the non foul call, by which he knew he commited. The playoffs say, seventy percent of the teams to win game one generally wins the series. Whether your a fan or not of the Heat, I commend them for their consistency in being aggressive off of the pick and role and especially denfensively. They are doing a great job of out hustling the Thunder since game 1, and seemed to be taking advantage of the seires.
The only thing I question is will they be able to play at this level for the duration of the finals, because logic says otherwise for the Heat and their MVP, in Lebron James.
The first game in Miami showed one of the biggest attributes by which is determing this series in the Heats favor, in foul calls by the referees. This post season has been changing dramaticly game by game due to the inconsistent foul judgment by the referees. Kevin Durant who by far is a better defender than he's given credit for, has now all of a sudden become a foul trouble player in the NBA finals. Notice of which when Kevin Durant is on the floor, the Oklahoma City Thunder will always outscore and beat the Miami Heat. During the third quarter to start the second half, Durant was on the floor and he showed Miami why he's known as the best scorer in the leaugue, causing the Thunder to be up ten on the Heat. As the crowd began to get restless and the momentum changed in the favor of the Thunder, the refs decide to make a petty and non playoff foul on Durant to give him his fourth foul. Shortly after, the Miami Heat began to make their come back led by Lebron James, who did a great job of getting to the paint for easy high percentage shots. As the Heat would become victorius in game 3, beating the Thunder by a six point margin. The tale of this series with a sad note, would come down to the referees judgment in calling the remainder of the games left. Statistics, on paper and off paper there is no way the Heat will beat the Oklahoma City Thunder led by Kevin Durant, because the Thunder are the better overall team and they have the youth and competetive drive. To add on, Durant by far has the gift by which very few are blessed with of being a natural born champion. James on the other hand has his mind set on the goal, but we all know how hard it is to believe this time is different from any other of the previous times before. Mark my words, if the Miami Heat led by their MVP Lebron James along side Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, dont win game 4, then they will loose the series in Oklahoma. Lebron James will to win, is nothing compared to Durants will to prove otherwise..
By: Larry Aaron
larealsportsworldjournalism.blogspot.com
