NBA Playoffs 2012: Why Game 4 Will Be a Defining Moment of the Heat's Big 3 Era

Win or lose, Sunday's Game 4 in Indiana will define the Miami Heat and their Big Three era.

During the past two years, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have crowned themselves kings, while being characterized as choke artists and villains by outsiders. But whether you're the biggest Heat supporter or one of the few million haters trolling from behind your computer screen, come Sunday, you will find out the true character of this team.

Although it's not an elimination game, the Heat might as well have a guillotine hanging over their heads as they enter Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Game 4.

A devastating 3-1 hole is on the horizon, and beyond that looms not only one of the most embarrassing playoff defeats ever, but perhaps the dismantling of a group that just two summers ago was ready to win "...not five, not six, not seven" championships.

As the seemingly replaceable (and often mocked) Bosh watches helplessly from the sidelines, all the pressure in the world will rest on the shoulders of James and Wade.

Although LeBron was decent in Miami's Game 3 debacle, he once again appeared content to fade when his team needed him most. And with his awful 2-for-13 shooting performance, Wade finally incurred the wrath of the Miami fans.

Both need to be brilliant in Game 4, or the Heat organization as we know it could go up in flames.

Based on their terrible Game 3, Miami can't count on their role players for jack. Shane Battier and James Jones combined to shoot just 1-for-13 from the field (0-for-9 on threes), while Mike Miller, Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf pulled down just 10 rebounds in a combined 61 minutes off the bench.

With "production" like that from the supporting cast, it's clear that only James and Wade can carry the Heat out of this shipwreck of a series.

When Wade and LeBron lace up their sneakers Sunday afternoon, they will do so with the knowledge that if they don't play perfectly, their team is completely screwed.

The stakes are high and the stage is set. And when the final buzzer sounds, we will know for sure whether the Heat are heroes, villains, chokers, clutch performers or some combination of all four.

Let's see what you've got, Miami. The world will be watching.