Heat Could Learn a Lesson on Mental Toughness from OKC Thunder

Based on their roster composition and style of play, there are no two teams more similar in these NBA playoffs than the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat.

Which is why when taking pause to appreciate where things remain in the current playoff landscape, it appears almost necessary to note the contrast between the two teams given their reversal of fortune in the past week.

At one point, the Miami Heat were in complete control of their Eastern Conference series with a 2-0 lead over the Boston Celtics, and they were all but destined for a return to the NBA Finals and a chance at redemption.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Oklahoma City Thunder was down 0-2 against a team that was coming off its 20th win and appeared, as Al Jefferson said, to be "unbeatable."

Yet, remarkably, Oklahoma City momentarily stands as the team closest to the NBA Finals, as its demoralized opponent seems ripe for elimination in tomorrow's game six in Oklahoma City.

Meanwhile, the biggest story surrounding the spiraling Miami Heat is not so much the slated return of Chris Bosh in a must-win Game 5, but whether his ability to play will be more indicative of his improved health or Miami's desperation.

Therefore, there is no need to belabor the point that there is a certain element influencing the divergent paths of these two teams.

And that element is mental toughness.

Nearly two weeks ago, Dwyane Wade and Erik Spoelstra came off a heated confrontation that seemed to uplift the team, as the Heat banned together and took over the series against Indiana . At the time, it appeared reminiscent of the verbal skirmish Gary Payton and Antoine Walker once engaged in that played a role in catapulting a tempestuous Heat team to its first championship.

Now, one can only hope that the team's return to South Beach as well as Chris Bosh's return to the team will finally provide the fire for Miami to beat a team considered to be outmatched in this series.

In comparison, any fan who had the pleasure of watching the Western Conference's rendition of a Game 5 last night saw an Oklahoma City team maintain its poise amidst a hostile crowd and a desperate San Antonio team with timely buckets from their stars.

Emphasis on the word, stars.

Kevin Durant finished last night with 27 points.

Russell Westbrook had 23 points, and James Harden finished with 20.

No other Thunder player reached double-digits in points. 

In other words, their Big Three stepped up and everyone else followed suit.

No, this is not yet another repetitive indictment on LeBron James or the team's performance in crunch time—at least not the regular season's version of crunch time.

Because, in the playoffs, and especially in the Eastern Conference Finals, crunch time doesn't start with a few ticks left in the game but at the tip-off.

Which means if Dwyane Wade were as steadfast in performing his primary role as superstar, would his secondary role as closer have ever come into question after game four?

If Spoelstra could duplicate a shred of the reassurance he so aptly displays in his postgame press conferences to the courage of his convictions, would Miami's rotation stand as secure as Donald Trump's publicist?

Perhaps this will all be a moot point in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the return to Miami and Bosh may be enough of a lifeline to thwart any further threat from Boston.

But Miami will have to win on the road in the next round.

Don't forget, these are the same Boston Celtics that played seven games in the last round against the inexperienced Philadelphia 76ers.

The same team that would probably not be in these Eastern Conference Finals if Derrick Rose hadn't tore his ACL in the first round.

The same team that has been without Avery Bradley, their Wade stopper, since the start of the conference finals.

The same team that, like the San Antonio Spurs, has played every single conference final game without the best player in the series on their team.

So, first things first.

Tonight's game bares no symbolism of hope or perseverance, but survival. The activation of Chris Bosh that was reported by the Miami Herald was a clear declaration of that much.

And if Miami is fortunate enough to win tonight, its statement game will come in Game 6 on the road. A must-win in its own right, the victory would be for Miami's psyche, if nothing else.

Because based on what the Western Conference Finals showed last night, this is really just the calm before the storm.