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01:14
Predictions
This is the point where I once again reiterate the fact that I feel like this series is over. I’ll be happy to take the L here, but it looks like Miami’s last chance to alter this series was in Game 4. I feel like the Lakers take a relatively early lead and by the third quarter it’s going to be so out of control we’re on. to spend our time talking about where this victory would fit in Lakers history and beginning with the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan.
Agree? Disagree? Do you think Jimmy Butler has another Big Game left, even though the Lakers’ decision to let Anthony Davis mark him in Game 4 could have been the turning point of the entire series? Once again, please send us your predictions, either by email (at [email protected]) or Twitter (at @HunterFelt).
01:08
Could Dragic’s foot injury in Game 1 of the Finals become the turning point of this series? ESPN’s Zach Lowe argued that his absence essentially put the Heat in an impossible situation:
The Heat gave a lot to rescue him. The payoff went up and down, until this postseason, when Dragic played the best basketball of his life.
You felt his absence down the stretch of Game 4. With the Butler-Adebayo foothold blocked, Miami looked to the offense, mainly relying on Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro shooting their picks. The Lakers were ready.
01:00
Injury report
There was a little chat about point guard Goran Dragic trying to find a way to play in Game 4, despite his torn plantar fascia. That did not happen. Maybe if Miami had tied the series on Tuesday we probably would have heard more, but with Miami’s chances getting slimmer, it seemed highly unlikely that anything would change regarding Dragic’s Game 5 availability. In fact, he appears alongside PG Gabe Vincent.
In the meantime, all are available to the Lakers.
00:50
Preamble
Welcome to what could be the end of the longest and most surreal season in the NBA. While those of us without much interest in these Finals probably hope the Miami Heat can find a way to extend the season with a win against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5, we must admit that it is a minor miracle that I have gotten to the point. absolutely. Despite the overwhelming odds against it, the league figured out a way to restart the season, after a long hiatus, without exposing its employees to a Covid-19 outbreak. The Bubble, despite legitimate fears many of us had before the season resumed at Walt Disney World, has not exploded.
Let’s not be too quick to proclaim that today is the end of the line. The last time we started writing premature obituaries for the season, when the Heat were down 2-0 and losing two of their biggest players to injuries, Jimmy Butler responded with an All Ages Finals game, a triple. -40-point double that kept Miami’s hopes alive.
Unfortunately, Bam Adebayo’s return in Game 4 ended up not being enough for the Heat to beat the Lakers for the second game in a row. So the Lakers now lead the series 3-1 and need only one more win to secure all 17 for their franchise.th championship and if they don’t win today, they will have two more chances. In other words, the odds are not good for the Heat.
No matter what happens over the course of the next few hours, however, the Heat should be given a lot of credit. They began the postseason as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and proceeded to sweep the Indiana Pacers in the first round. They then easily handled the Milwaukee Bucks, the team with the best regular-season record in the league, in the second and went on to beat a talented Boston Celtics team in the Eastern Conference Finals. They have been defying the odds throughout the postseason. It should come as no surprise if they delay the Lakers’ crowning for at least one more game.
Still, chances are high that this will be our last NBA live blog of the year (Commissioner Adam Silver has suggested that we most likely won’t see another season until next year). That means if you intend to contribute, this could be your last chance. You can send emails to [email protected] or direct your Tweets to @HunterFelt. It’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat here at the Walt Disney World Bubble. The game is scheduled to start at 9pm EST, but we will have ongoing updates before then.
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