NBA Finals 2012 TV Schedule: Heat Must Make Massive Statement at Home in Game 4

Blood is in the South Beach water.

The Miami Heat must smell it and sink their teeth into the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals on Tuesday, June 19 at 9:00 p.m. EDT (on ABC). If the Heat succeed, OKC would be on life support, but if not, Miami would instantly turn from predator to prey.

Last summer, LeBron James and company held a 2-1 series lead against the Dallas Mavericks. Led by Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs stormed back to win three straight games and claim the crown.

Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald reported that LeBron believes that his crew is more prepared for Game 4 than they were last season. He said following the Heat’s victory on Sunday:

"

We’re a totally different team than we were last year when we were up 2-1. We’re a totally different team. We understand what it takes to win and we’ve used [last year] as motivation and will continue to use that motivation.

"

Sure, Miami has all the momentum now, but that will flip 180 degrees if the Heat lose Game 4. With a Tuesday night triumph, Oklahoma City would guarantee that they would be headed home. No matter what happens in Game 5, all the Thunder would have to do to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy is protect their house.

Miami doesn’t want that. Just ask the Boston Celtics.

In the 2010 NBA Finals, Boston led the Los Angeles Lakers 3-2 going into Game 6. Because LA had home-court advantage, the 2-3-2 format allowed them to fight their two most important battles of the series at the Staples Center and they won both. If it weren’t for that luxury, it would’ve been far more difficult for the Lakers to come back.

Oklahoma City has that same edge. A Miami win in Game 4 puts the Thunder on the brink of elimination, but a loss turns the tables in a Maverick/Laker-like manner. And the Heat definitely don’t want that.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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