No two games are the same but, looking again, there’s an intriguing trait in San Antonio’s back-to-back conquest of defending champion Miami that showed there was hardly any difference between Games 3 and 4 of the current NBA Finals.
The Spurs displayed dedicated cohesion and deep character.
Miami, loose, had very tired legs and only little heart.
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Said Spurs big man Boris Diaw: “The game plan (for Game 4) was to play the same way that we did last time. The game was pretty similar.”
It’s imperative on Miami to make a deviation when the title series moves to San Antonio, that’s if the Heat have to save face after the back-to-back spanking dealt by San Antonio.
“We need quite a few things right now, so I have a couple of days to mull over all possibilities,” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.
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No need to ask coach Gregg Popovich of his plan. He will be ready for whatever surprise Miami could spring after the imperiled defending champions have hopefully recovered from fatigue.
The solemn dedication to the soundless move-around play pattern will definitely be at its most symphonic when the Spurs go for the kill at home tomorrow.
But it goes without saying the Spurs will not allow Game 5 to be a patented continuation of their previous winning match.
Twice is enough.
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On the part of the Miami team mentor, Spoelstra has to summon all his game smarts to avoid a repeat of their last two hideous outings when they were made to appear like fumbling neophytes.
The Heat have got to make a gallant stand, that’s if they’re to avoid the Spurs taking them to school a third straight time.
The Heat should be favored to finish tomorrow’s game with their championship pride intact.
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BIG-HEARTED SPURS: “Looks like the ‘Heart’ of the Spurs has frustrated the Heat’s aim for a three-peat,” notes Joseph Dumuk, former national sports chief statistician. “I believe that winning three games—two in San Antonio—and basing on the differences in the first four games (-15, +2, -19, -21), it would take super excellent efforts on the part of Miami to upend the inspired Spurs, who are on the brink of atoning for the 2013 Game Six nightmare.”