NBA 2012 Finals: Miami Heat Look For 3-1 Series Stranglehold

Three games into the 2012 NBA Finals, the battle between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder has been anything but a classic. A quick look at the numbers being posted by both clubs shows chump like statistics – rather than Championship caliber form.

Tonight’s pivotal Game Four has the Thunder trying to avoid slipping into a 1-3 series hole as tip-off is slated for 9:00 PM ET on Tuesday, July 19, 2012 in Miami, FL.

Kings James Two-Way Play Helps Miami Lead Finals 2-1

Despite continuous coronations, LeBron James has yet to take the throne as a Champion in the NBA. That said, if “The King” continues his recent two-way play, the 2012 NBA Finals may not see another game played outside of the American Airlines Arena in sunny South Beach, Florida.

Even though they shot a junior high team like .378 (record is .275) from the field in Game 3, the Heat have now won two straight as they posted a 91-85 Game Three victory on Sunday. The Heat have also bullied their way to a 2-1 series lead. James poured in 29 points, and had 14 rebounds, during Game Three – in what may have been his best all around game in the 2012 NBA Playoffs.

Foul Trouble – Lack Of Secondary Scoring Keep Thunder From Rolling

Oklahoma City went down 2-0 to the experienced San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. We then wondered if the Thunder were still a year or so away from capturing an NBA Championship. A run of four wins over the Spurs had us second-guessing ourselves as the Thunder rolled into the Finals. A Game One win over the Heat – in OKC – helped solidify that sentiment.

Two games – and two loses later, the inexperience of the Thunder is starting to show once again. It certainly doesn’t help that they were in early foul trouble during Game Three and they have yet to receive much in the way of secondary scoring through the first three contests. James Harding (35 series points) and Serge Ibaka (22 series points) had better step it up in Game Four tonight.

The heat is on and the Thunder need to get rolling if they want to play a Game Six back in OKC. While we see a sharper effort from both clubs – expect a more uptempo effort from OKC tonight. We still like Oklahoma City to cool the Heat and capture the NBA Championship in seven games.