June 14, 2013

Heat's Big Three Lead Game 4 Win Over Spurs: Dwyane Wade scored 32 points, LeBron James 33, and Chris Bosh 20 in the Miami Heat's 109-93 road win over the San Antonio Spurs to even the NBA Finals at 2-2. The Spurs may want to rethink assigning center Tiago Splitter at the start to guard Wade, who shot 14-for-25 and was 4-4 from the charity stripe. During the game, a waterfront deck collapsed in Miami's North Bay Village as people gathered to watch the game, sending 100 people down five feet into Biscayne Bay. Two dozen were injured, two seriously. "There was just a crack, and then we were in the water," said Crystal Infante.

posted by rcade to basketball at 07:41 AM - 3 comments

The big three show up and the Heat win - if Wade's able to stay loose like that and Bosh plays closer to the basket like he did in game 4, the Spurs are going to need Ginobli to figure himself out really quick.

Second-half Parker looked a full step slower than he's been all post-season - if that hamstring issue persists, the Spurs really are going to be pressed to take another game off the Heat. The Heat can take away the three and if Ginobli and Parker can't break the D down on drives, it is going to be a pretty listless offence.

posted by dfleming at 01:06 PM on June 14, 2013

Wade and LeBron made a commitment to defense and created a lot of turnovers leading to easy baskets. That is the key to the Heat - if their stars decide to focus defensively they cannot be beat.

When they create turnovers it leads to good offensive matchups in transition. If they dog on defense they are forced to execute half court offense where well coached teams limit them with team defensive schemes.

That is the most complete game I've seen Wade play since "The Decision" / "Don't forget about me, I'm going there too". And it all started with some big defensive plays.

posted by cixelsyd at 02:22 PM on June 14, 2013

Wade and LeBron made a commitment to defense

Just being honest here: I'm pretty uncomfortable with the narrative you're crafting about LeBron's defense being a result of when he bothers to care.

posted by yerfatma at 09:24 AM on June 15, 2013

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