Heat play tough, but LeBron, Lakers too much to handle
I knowwhat youwant to say about the Miami Heat’s loss in Game 4 of theNBA Finals, because I want to say the same thing, too. Youwant to say itwas a valiant loss, a commendable battle.
Youwant to salute Bam Adebayo for playing hurt, and the underdogHeat for playing hard, even in defeat, especially in the despair of a 102-96 loss that left the Los Angeles Lakers an inevitable one more win fromthe title.
But sorry. When you don’twin at this point, you lose. When you can’t find away save a night, you lose the game. And so when the Heat kept pulling within a point, or all theway even of the Lakers in the final minutes, itmade for a dramatic game.
That doesn’t change the fact the Lakers and LeBron James made the big plays when needed. They’re playing in the Disney complex, after all, not on The Disney Channel so wishing on a starwon’t make these underdogHeat dreams happen.
When Lakers star Anthony Davis hit a 3-point shot with 39.5 seconds left to make it a 100-91 game, that was the final shot that mattered.
“We have to figure out away to make plays at the end,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s wherewe usually figure it out and make the plays.”
it, though. Effort is fine. Competition is commendable.
The Lakers are still one game fromthe title. LeBron James andDavis still righted their average first halves to win the night. TheHeat will stillwonder what itwas like if Adebayo and Goran Dragicwere healthy.
Everybody. Fromeverywhere. That’s howtheHeat has got to this point, with the most balanced team theNBA has seen come this far in a while. That’s how they’re going to go down, too, assuming they go down now. And with the Lakers leading 3-1, even the die-hardHeat have a hard time to get out of this.
The problem with a balanced attack the Heat plays with most nights— Jimmy Butler can’t score 40 or TylerHerro 37 most games— is that everyone has to be on their game to win. Everyone.
That’s the only script thatworks for the Heat against a star-laden team like the Lakers. And everyonewasn’t on Tuesday. There’s no shame Jae Crowderwas 1-for-6 on 3-pointers orKelly Olynyk had four points midway through the fourth quarter.
That’s sports. That’s the ebb and flowof performances. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra squeezed everything he fromthis team, especially defensively.
Did you a packed-lane man-to-man turned LeBron andDavis into average players in Tuesday’s first half? TheHeat defense clogged the middle where the two best Lakers love to attack.
At one point early in the second half, LeBron tried to get something going and tried to drive down the line. ThreeHeat players immediately stepped before him. No sir. Not there.
The ideawas to let the other Lakers try to beat them fromthe outside. Kentavious Caldewll-Pope started hot, Alex Caruso had a run and you knowwhat? You’d lose thatway if you’re theHeat.
LeBron andDavis had eight points each in the first half. Theywent to the foul line a combined two times. LeBron had more turnovers (five) than field goals).
The Lakers still led at half, 49-47. It still had the feel ofMonday night football whenNewEngland coach Bill Belichick masterfully held Kansas City quarterback PatrickMahomes to six points at half.
At some point, talent wins out. Mahomes put up 20 points in the second half.
LeBron? He figured it out likeMahomes. He finished with 28 points and12 rebounds. Davis had 22 points and nine rebounds.
(One aside: Doyou remember LeBron whining this much about calls with the Heat? Or did you block that part of his game out when hewas with the local team?)
TheHeat played tough. They played hurt. But with these stakes there are only winners and losers. It’s hard to see a different outcome than the one that’s coming.