| |
|
NBA Finals - Game 4 a must-win for Miami (PHOTOS)
By Homer D. Sayson PhilBoxing.com Fri, 13 Jun 2014

MIAMI -- Do-or-die.
It's perhaps the most over-used clich? in all of sports. But as far as the Miami Heat are concerned, the slogan fits like a glove.
Down 2-1 in this best-of-7 championships, the two-time defending champions need to win today's Game 4. A loss puts them in a hole where they would have to beat the San Antonio Spurs three straight times in order to score a 3-peat.
Good luck on that. Game 5 and 7 will be at the AT&T Center where the Spurs have just lost twice in this entire postseason.
Miami's dreaded Big 3 are performing like superstars in their fourth consecutive Finals. Through three games thus far, LeBron James has 82 points, 22 rebounds and 13 assists while Dwyane Wade has quietly sank 21 of 39 field goals for 55 points.
Chris Bosh had a quiet 9 points and 3 rebounds in the Game 3 blowout, but the 6-foot-11 center starred in Game 2 win by drilling the go-ahead 3 late and feeding an open Wade to seal the 98-96 win.
So why the heck are the Heat behind in this series?
Well, the Spurs are shooting lights out and are averaging 105.6 points a game. San Antonio was blistering hot in Game 3 they made 19 of their first 21 shots to build a 25-point cushion. And they converted 75.8 percent of their shots in the opening half, an NBA playoffs record.
Obviously, the Heat defense needs to stop some of that bleeding.
Another Heat concern is their turnovers. They have 54, which the Spurs converted into 64 points. The Spurs, meanwhile, only made 47 turnovers that were turned into 39 Miami points.
The most important key, however, is the Heat bench. They haven't shown up yet in these Finals and have been thoroughly outscored by the Spurs reserves -- 100-55.
In nutshell, here's what the Heat need to secure Game 4: Play defense like champions, reduce the turnovers and draw meaningful production from guys not named LeBron, Wade and Bosh.
Easier said than done. (Homer D. Sayson)
Photo: Chris Bosh practices his stroke two hours before Game 4.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod? By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA , Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis) By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25 , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy , Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas , Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON , Thu, 10 Jul 2025FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships , Wed, 09 Jul 2025James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights” , Wed, 09 Jul 2025GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN , Tue, 08 Jul 2025UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA , Mon, 07 Jul 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|