NBA Finals: Why the Miami Heat Must Win Game 5 to Win the Title
The Miami Heat are seemingly in total control of the 2012 NBA Finals.
They lead the Thunder three games to one, and are looking to close out the series on their home court. Miami and Oklahoma City will face off in Game Five at 9 p.m. ET.
The Heat are 3.5 point favorites and LeBron James is expected to win the first ring of his career. However, if Miami isn't able to end the series at home, they could be in danger of blowing the biggest lead in Finals history.
Miami would still be in the driver's seat if they lost Game Five. OKC would still have to win two more games in order to win the title.
Some people aren't giving the Thunder much of a chance, but Oklahoma City has a good chance to win a championship if they can get back home for Games Six and Seven.
OKC might have the best home court advantage in the NBA. They went 26-7 at Chesapeake Energy Arena during the season, and have only lost one game at home in the playoffs.
Miami blew a big lead in Game One on the road and almost blew an even bigger lead in Game Two. Oklahoma City is already favored by four points for a potential Game Six and would probably be favored by at least that much in a Game Seven.
If Miami loses on Thursday, there will be an immense amount of pressure on them to close out the series. The Heat have proven in the past that they sometimes have trouble when they are expected to win.
When the Heat were down 2-1 against the Pacers in the second round, they went on to dominate the rest of the series. Miami beat Indiana by an average of 17 points in the next three games.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat won the first two games. After it looked like the series might be over, they lost three straight. Miami took the following two games when many predicted that the Heat wouldn't make it to the Finals, and were calling for the team to break up the trio of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Now, the Heat are in the same situation that they were in at the beginning of the Boston series. Miami's backs are no longer against the wall, and they could fold if the Thunder show any signs of life.
If Miami loses two straight games and is on the verge of blowing their title hopes in a Game Seven, there would be an incredible amount of pressure on the Heat to win.
James has had an incredible series, averaging 30.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per contest. He and the rest of the Heat have outplayed the Thunder through four games, and are extremely close to winning an NBA title.
But if Miami loses Game Five, OKC could be in prime position to steal the series.
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