NBA Playoffs 2013: Biggest Keys for Miami Heat in Crucial Game 4

The Miami Heat got back to their dominating tempo and style in a Game 3 victory over the Indiana Pacers, but they must continue to focus on these keys in order to secure a 3-1 series advantage in Game 4 Tuesday night.

LeBron James and Co. bolted out to 70 first-half points in Game 3, and they didn't look back as they maintained a big lead throughout the second half and gained a 2-1 series lead after dropping Game 2 on their home court. 

But if they want to return to Miami with the chance to close out the series in Game 5, they'll have to execute on their biggest strengths against this balanced Pacers squad that doesn't let anything come easy.

Let's take a look at the biggest keys for a Heat victory in Game 4. 

Look For the Hot Hand

Miami's biggest issue in its Game 2 loss was working almost entirely through the Big Three. James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh totaled 67 points, while no other player notched more than seven points.

Game 3 was a different story, as all five starters finished with at least 14 points and the bench players fired off a combined 21 shots from the field. 

The Heat's most hidden advantage is having players on their bench that can sporadically go off for 15 points on any given night (see: Udonis Haslem in Game 3), and it's one that the players themselves fail to recognize at times. 

Haslem's Game 3 performance was a shock for anyone who's watched the Heat these playoffs, which goes to show that head coach Erik Spoelstra cannot afford to ignore a player just because of a cold-shooting streak, according to ESPN Stats & Info. 

Sure, LeBron and D-Wade should get the most field-goal attempts. But if you don't give players like Haslem, Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen their fair share of shots, you won't know what you're missing out on.

It paid off for them in Game 3, and it's sure to do the same in Game 4 if they honor their bench and look for the hot hand.

Execute From the Charity Stripe

The Pacers have taken 29 more free throws than the Heat in the series. That number is sure to climb in Indiana's favor based on each team's makeup. 

But that's not to the Heat's dismay. Their best players are adept at drawing contact and getting to the line, but it's not guaranteed that they'll execute when they get there.

Their 85.7 percent (24-for-28) performance from the charity stripe in Game 3 was a huge improvement from Game 2 (69.2), and midway through the third quarter they had only missed one shot from the line.

To make up for their inability to halt Roy Hibbert and David West in the post, they'll have to shoot a better percentage than their pesky opponent.

Otherwise, that part of the game will be an advantage for the Pacers and Miami will have to find another area to tip the scales. 

Don't Force Deep Ball

The Heat are one of the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA, but that's because of their ability to stretch the floor and constantly find the open shooter.

However, they got away from that in Games 1 and 2 as they forced three-ball after three-ball, shooting 12-for-40 (30 percent) in those two game combined. It was no coincidence that they were one play of LeBron heroics away from facing an 0-2 deficit as a result.

In Game 3, they let their deep ball run through their offense and it paid dividends. They shot 6-for-14 (42.9 percent) Monday night, with the focus on finding the open shooter. As a result, Chris Bosh was 2-for-3 from downtown and if it weren't for Shane Battier's continued struggles (1-for-4 from deep), their percentage would've been even higher.

A big advantage for the Heat in this series is long-range shooting, but they won't reap the benefits of it without stretching the floor and making the extra pass.

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