The Oklahoma City Thunder have been here before and under worse circumstances. They are down 2-1 to the Miami Heat as Game 4 is less that 24 hours away.
Since the Western Conference Finals, I have always found myself yelling at the Thunder to get their big men started early.
They have never done it in the Finals.
It is understandable that Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins are more defensive-minded players, but because the Heat have the physical disadvantage, the Thunder's key to victory is exploiting this weakness.
They don't have to run plays or set screens for them a lá Ray Allen, but a feed down low to post Perkins up to get him involved is vital.
Perkins gives an inch or two to Chris Bosh, but he is heavier. He can back Bosh down underneath the basket and get easy buckets.
Russell Westbrook must give up the ball.
Ibaka is a decent shooter from the perimeter. When he releases the ball, you almost automatically expect the swish on the other end.
Russell Westbrook must give up the ball.
The Thunder have fallen in love with the jumper and are obviously not getting the foul calls down low. It seems like they are intimated to score from the paint.
They had open looks in Game 3, which they failed to hit, especially the Westbrook three as time ran down. Another reason why Westbrook must give up the ball.
One thing the Miami Heat did last year was shoot themselves out of games, which led to the Dallas Mavericks coming back in the series.
The difference is that, now, the Thunder are shooting themselves to death and not working the ball down low.
In Game 3, the Thunder went to the line 11 times less than the Heat, which tells you they are not working the paint enough to draw fouls.
NBA fans will tell you the refs are messing up, but I have yet to hear a Thunder player complain about these calls they are not getting.
The Thunder have had their chance to win the games, despite whatever the refs are doing.
Miami has given them plenty of opportunities in the series and Oklahoma City has not taken advantage of these chances.
The key to the Heat's game is the same one since the first game of the playoffs, give it to LeBron James. Obviously, he has not done it by himself.
Dwyane Wade and Bosh have been helping out frequently. Meanwhile, Shane Battier has picked up a few MVP votes around the nation.
According to Durant, he is going to shoot the ball until his arms fall off in the fourth quarter, which is definitey a key to their victory.
And Westbrook has to remember to pass the ball.
Game 4 tips off at 9PM on ABC Tuesday night.
