Game 4 ECF Analysis: Heat Strain

The Miami Heat had better hope real hard that their star Forward Chris Bosh can return for game five on Tuesday night.  I wrote a couple of weeks ago during the conference semis when Bosh went down with the abdominal strain that the Heat would survive short term without his presence in the lineup.  James and Wade are big time scorers and could carry the load against an up-and-coming team in their last series against the Indiana Pacers.  The Heat did in fact prevail in that series, but now they are beginning to miss Bosh with their Eastern Conference Finals series now tied 2-2. 

The Celtics grinded out an overtime win in game four and dodged a bullet from Dwyane Wade, who just missed on a good look from three as the clock ran out in OT.  This resulted in a 93-91 victory for Boston in a game that should not have even been close. 

The Heat came out flat again last night in Boston.  The Celtics built a substantial lead early; one which they stacked on right before the half up 61-47.  Boston however, could not have had a worse third quarter where they only scored 12 points and allowed Miami to score 21.  The Celtics would rally behind Point Guard Rajon Rondo's 15 assist and end up having to steal a win at home without Pierce in OT.

Miami had a chance to win at the end of regulation with the ball in LeBron's hands, but to the Celtics credit they defended James brilliantly forcing him to make an awkward pass to a barely open Undonis Haslem.  Haslem threw up a prayer (while LeBron actually threw up) that never came close to going in. 

Paul Pierce, who lead all Celtics with 23 points, fouled out for the second time in this series before OT.  The officials evened things up when they called LeBron James with his sixth foul early in OT.  It was an offensive foul call on James under his own basket as he and Celtics Forward Mickael Pietrus tumbled to the floor.  The call could have gone either way, but they nabbed the leagues three time MVP with the foul.   This was the first time James had ever fouled out as a member of the Miami Heat and he was obviously upset after the game.

Via AP post game presser, "I don't foul out.  If I'm going to foul out, that sixth foul, I wish I would have earned it and it had actually been a foul on me. Whatever."

This brings Chris Bosh back into the discussion.  The Heat have allowed Kevin Garnett to do whatever he wants whenever he wants in the paint during games three and four in Boston.  It has been reported that Miami believes Bosh can go for game five and they will need him even if he can only provide limited minutes.  The Heat did in fact win the points in the paint battle in game four 48-38, but Garnett still mustered up 17 points and 14 rebounds.  They need help down low to curb those numbers from KG.

The series now shifts back to South Beach for game five.  The big story leading up will be if Bosh is able to do his Willis Reed impersonation and make a marvelous comeback to the floor.

Video of LeBron James fouling out in game four of the ECF.  (Via YouTube)