NBA Finals 2012: Why Thunder Will Take Series Back to Oklahoma City

No team has ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Finals. But the Oklahoma City Thunder don't need to worry about overcoming history just yet—they should be more concerned with winning Game 5 in Miami.

And I believe they'll do just that.

For one, this Thunder team hasn't lost four straight games since the 2008-09 season. Remember, they were left for dead by many after they lost the first two games in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

All they did in that series was rattle off four straight wins and end the Spurs' 20-game winning streak.

And it's not as though they've been outclassed by the Miami Heat and blown out in the three losses. Quite the contrary—all four games in this series have been competitive and the series could just as easily be tied at two-games apiece or even 3-1 in favor of the Thunder.

It's been that tight.

What happens if the foul on Kevin Durant at the end of Game 2 is called or Durant makes that shot? What happens if the Thunder hit shots late in Game 3 or Russell Westbrook doesn't make a huge gaffe off the jump ball in Game 4 by fouling Mario Chalmers?

Plus, we don't know what the condition of LeBron James and his leg cramps will be tonight. If LeBron isn't himself in Game 5, the Heat won't beat the Thunder. It's really that simple.

I know this Heat team still has Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh—and sure, Shane Battier and Chalmers have been magical in spurts—but this has been the postseason of LeBron, and without him the Heat can't beat this Thunder team.

One last thing—the Thunder still have Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, two of the best players in the NBA. And if Oklahoma City could actually get some production from James Harden, this series could change in a heartbeat.

Remember, the Thunder are 9-1 at home in the postseason this year. If they can get by the Heat in Game 5, this series takes on a whole new look.

But they need to take care of business in Game 5 first.

They need Harden to show up. They need Westbrook to shoot from a high percentage and keep his teammates involved. They need Durant to dominate the fourth quarter. They need to run on the break whenever they get the chance and keep the game from becoming the sort of ugly, defensive struggle the Heat want.

On Friday night, they'll do it. This series has simply been too fantastic to end in five games.

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