The Miami Heat beat Kevin Durant and the Thunder in Game 3 on Monday and will face them again tonight in Game 4 (9:00 pm EST).
The series has lived up to the hype so far and as it progresses on, expect things to get better and better the same way wine changes through time
Although both teams are constantly making adjustments, they seem to be finally establishing their Finals' playing identity with the Heat aggressively charging and dribbling in towards the basket while the Thunder commit to jump shots, fast transitions, and tough team play.
During Game 3, the Miami were held to shooting just 37 percent from the field compared to the Thunder's 42 percent, but Miami still won the game.
Game 3 represented much in the sense that each team was not only given two games to study each other, but each had outdone each other--Thunder winning Game 1 and the Heat, Game 2-- and Game 3 would serve as an equation breaker with the winner moving one step closer to the championship.
There are still two games left, should Miami win both, but according to how competitive these games are being played out, the Latinos Post predicts the series should head back to OKC on Sunday night for Game 6.
The Thunder in Game 4 should be focusing on helping Durant ward off foul troubles early in the game and also importantly, neutralizing a deadly Shane Battier who has been an primary factor in giving Miami's its last two wins.
Miami on the other hand should come out limiting their losing of the ball. They had 15 turnovers in Game 3 and the problem with that, a couple of them occurred down the stretch. Wade lost the ball to Sefolosha with the clock winding down in the final minutes, giving the Thunder a dangerous push.
As the Finals' intensity continues to rage on with each team playing a more 'physical' and 'tough' game, so does the LeBron and Durant rivalry continue to mature. Here are the numbers so far:
James vs Durant Stats, NBA Finals Game 1, 2, 3
|
LEBRON JAMES |
KEVIN DURANT |
|
|
FG% |
.464 |
.575 |
|
FT% |
.827 |
.650 |
|
Total Points |
91 |
93 |
|
Rebounds |
10.3 |
5.7 |
|
Assists |
4.0 |
1.7 |
|
Steals |
1.7 |
1 |
|
Blocks |
0 |
1.3 |
|
3-Point % |
.225 |
.347 |
|
Turnovers |
3.33 |
3 |
OKC Thunder Stats
|
PLAYOFFS |
FINALS |
|
|
FG% |
.469 |
.452 |
|
FT% |
.823 |
.681 |
|
PPG |
102.1 |
92.75 |
|
Rebounds |
40.24 |
38.75 |
|
Assists |
18.6 |
14.5 |
|
Steals |
8.8 |
8.25 |
|
Blocks |
7.29 |
7.0 |
|
3-Point % |
.368 |
.271 |
Miami Heat Stats
|
PLAYOFFS |
FINALS |
|
|
FG% |
.460 |
.423 |
|
FT% |
.732 |
.858 |
|
Points |
96.2 |
94 |
|
Rebounds |
40.2 |
40.2 |
|
Assists |
17.3 |
13 |
|
Steals |
7.3 |
5.5 |
|
Blocks |
5.0 |
4.5 |
|
3-Point % |
.333 |
.364 |
2012 NBA Finals Series TV Schedule:
Game 4 - Oklahoma City vs. Miami - Tuesday, June 19, 9:00 PM ET, ABC
*Game 5 - Oklahoma City vs. Miami - Thursday, June 21, 9:00 PM ET, ABC
*Game 6 - Miami vs. Oklahoma City - Sunday, June 24, 8:00 PM ET, ABC
*Game 7 - Miami vs. Oklahoma City - Tuesday, June 26, 9:00 PM ET, ABC
*if necessary