Miami started game 4 poorly, as OKC managed to build up an 18-point lead in the first quarter. Miami struggled on both ends of the floor, while Rusell Westbrook was going off. It all changed when “Chuck” Norris Cole came on to replace Mario Chalmers, who was on a 2-18 stretch in the finals. Cole hit some big shots and Miami went on a 16-0 run to evaporate the deficit.

Jun 19, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is helped off the court after an injury during the fourth quarter in game four in the 2012 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Just like all the other games in this series, it all came down to a couple of late possessions. The air was sucked out of the AAA when LeBron James hit the floor awkwardly, with around 3 minutes left in the game, and was slow getting up. He had to be helped off the court to get treatment in front of the Heat bench. As his legs were cramping up, you could see James screaming in agony. The game was getting away from Miami, as their leader wasn’t on the court to direct the team. When Miami were 2 points down, James checked back into the game. Despite limping and barely being able to move, James knocked down an absolutely huge 3-point shot to give Miami a 3 point lead. When James came on the court Miami went on a 7-0 run, before James body completely gave up on him and he had to check out permanently. Mario Chalmers made a few big plays down the stretch, and closed the game out.

Keys to the game

In the first half James was getting more attention, and he did a great job distributing the ball. He was able to suck in the defense, and pass out of double teams, which lead to a couple of big three-point shots. James has mostly been a scorer in this series, but he did an excellent job reading the defense, and dishing out 8 assists in just the first half. He has to continue carrying the load.

Jun 19 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) lays the ball up past Miami Heat small forward James Jones (22) during the second half of game four in the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. Miami won 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via US PRESSWIRE

Rusell Westbrook had the best game of his career, yet managed to make the biggest mistake of the game. Westbrook scored 43 points, and was giving Miami a lot of trouble as he was in attack mode all night long. However, what most people will remember is his foul on Chalmers with 13.8 seconds left, when OKC didn’t have to foul.

OKC have made several sloppy plays down the stretch in this series, like the turnover on the inbounds pass in game 3, and they are learning their lesson the hard way right now. Even so, Westbrook had an unbelievable performance, and looked like he wanted to win more than anyone else. He has to continue playing well if OKC want to take the series back to Oklahoma City.

Jun 19, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the fourth quarter of game four in the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. Miami won 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE

Dwyane Wade has been struggling in this series, and has had to sustain quite a bit of criticism. While some of his shots have been pretty bad, I think he has made a lot of game changing plays. Whether it’s a big shot, or a game changing play on defense, Wade has figured out ways to help Miami get over the hump, time and time again.

James Harden continued his struggles in game 4, going for 2-10. He has been missing a lot of shots he really should be making, and needs to step up. Because of recent foul trouble, Durant was taken off James for the majorty of the game, and Harden was on him in the 3rd quarter. James was able to take a lot of dribbles posting up against Harden, and was able to draw fouls and score in the paint. This was a serious mismatch, and OKC didn’t help Harden out enough.

Jun 19 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers (15) lays the ball up past Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Nick Collison (4) during the second half of game four in the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. Miami won 104-98. Mandatory Credit:Mike Segar/Pool Photo via US PRESSWIRE

Mario Chalmers came through in game 4. He was on a 2-18 run in the finals, and continued his struggles in the beginning of game 4. Norris Cole made a couple of big plays while Chalmers was resting, and once he came back he seemed determined to get out of his slump. He scored 25 points, and closed the game out for Miami, making several big plays and hitting his free-throws to make it a two possession game with only seconds remaining. He has to continue playing well.

OKC have to start moving the ball better on offense if they want to take the series back to Oklahoma City. Too much of their offense has relied on individual play, and therefore been inconsistant. Miami really don’t want to give OKC any hope, and will be looking to close the series out tonight.

June 18, 2011; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) and guard Dwyane Wade (3) during practice for game four of the 2012 NBA finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Game 4 of the NBA Finals will be a pivotal one. After the win in game 3, Miami will be looking to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. On the other hand, with a victory tonight OKC would reclaim home court advantage and even up the series.

Keys to the game

Jun 17, 2012; Miam, FL, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts with 13 seconds left iduring the fourth quarter in game three in the 2012 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena. Miami won 91-85. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

For two games in a row, Kevin Durant has found himself in foul trouble, being forced to sit out during key moments of the game. LeBron James continued to go hard at Durant in game 3, and when Durant didn’t foul him, he earned himself easy layups in the paint. Kevin Durant made it clear that he wanted to take on the challenge of guarding LeBron James, but let’s face it – he’s not strong enough. As amazing of a player as Durant is, he simply isn’t strong enough to stop the freight train that is LeBron James. Someone has to take turns guarding James in game 4, because the Thunder simply cannot afford to sit Durant down during important stretches of the game.

The key for Miami Heat in game 3 was getting into the paint. Apart from a James jumpshot, and two Battier three-point shots, Miami didn’t hit a single shot outside the paint in the first half. Collectively, Miami did a good job being aggressive, taking it to the basket and getting to the foul line, where they were 31-35 on the night. It is reassuring that despite everyone shooting poorly, Miami managed to find ways to score.

June 18, 2011; Miami, FL, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks during practice for game four of the 2012 NBA finals against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

A turning point in the game was when Scott Brooks decided to take Westbrook out of the game in the 3rd quarter, together with Durant when he picked up his 4th foul. Yes, Westbrook takes ill-advised shots. Yes, he was having a tough stretch. Even so, that decision, indirectly, cost them the game. The only person left on the floor that could create his own shot was James Harden, who was ice-cold, shooting 2-10 from the field. This made the Thunder’s offense stagger for the remainder of the 3rd quarter, and Miami took advantage cutting into the deficit.

Jun 17 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) drives to the basket as he is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first quarter of game three in the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE

The key for Miami will be to continue being aggressive, and getting into the paint. If Durant is still on James for the majority of the game, James absolutely has to make sure he gets Durant into foul trouble. Dwyane Wade has to play better. Obviously he had 25 points, and he hit some timely baskets but he was really sloppy with the ball, turning it over 5 times. Some of these turnovers came at crucial moments as well. Wade is a great off-ball player, and doesn’t need to dribble it around and go iso as much as he did.

Just like all of the Heat players, Bosh was struggling with his mid-range shot, which is usually automatic. He needs to shoot it better. Speaking of shooting better, Chalmers went 1-8 on the night, and scored only 2 points. We have seen Chalmers taking it to the basket before, and if the shots aren’t falling it would be nice to see him being more aggressive, when the opportunity presents itself.

The Thunder fans should not put their heads down just yet. Harden was 2-10, Westbrook and Durant missed a key part of the game, and the best free throw shooting team in the NBA went 15-24 at the line. They had a double digit lead in the 3rd quarter, but fouled Battier and James Jones on three-point shots, which melted the lead away. Despite all of that, OKC were right in there. They were 1 point behind with 1:30 to go, and if not for a very silly foul by Harden and Sefolosha turning it over on the inbound pass, they might have stolen game 3.

Some say Thunder’s young age has cought up to them, and to some extent that is correct. They did make a couple of bone-headed plays down the stretch that eventually cost them the game, and that simply cannot happen. Durant has to stay out of foul trouble and they need to shoot better at the line.

This will be a key game, that very well might decide the outcome of the series. If Miami take game 4, they would give themselves 3 games to close out the series. It is a must-win game for the Thunder.