NBA Finals Heat vs. Thunder Game 5: Elimination Game Thread

So who else had the Heat in 5? But I jest...

All 4 games in the series have been competitive and come down to the fourth quarter, with the last three being decided in the waning moments, but Miami is positioned to close out the series tonight because, ironically, they are playing team basketball and closing out games better than the Thunder.

It has been an entertaining series so far, but not great. Great series don't end in 5 games. The Thunder will have to extend this before the discussion can enter that realm. To do so, they will need an inspired effort.

Here are some quick stats, notes, and trends to watch for:

Lebron James 29.3 ppg, 10 rpg, 6 apg, 47.2% fg

Dwyane Wade 23.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, 41.3% fg

Chris Bosh 12.3 ppg, 10 rpg, 39.6% fg

Kevin Durant 30.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2 apg, 55% fg

Russell Westbrook 29 ppg, 7 rpg, 6.8 apg, 48% fg

James Harden 10.8 ppg, 5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 35.1% fg

James leads the Heat in scoring, rebounding, and assists per game for the series (Westbrook is 1.3 points and .5 rebounds per game from the same feat). James will be the Finals MVP if Miami wins tonight. Believe it or not, Lebron = cramps clutch.

Durant has become a more one dimensional player in the series with less than 5 rebounds per game. He has also struggled with horrible officiating foul trouble and (possibly) the physicality of the series.

Harden has had an execrable series, reaching double figures just once in 4 games. He needs to step it up. He will be playing tonight with a bruised ego hand.

Miami has had a more balanced attack, with 5 players (Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Battier, and Chalmers) reaching double figures in scoring at least twice. Only Durant and Westbrook have done so for the Thunder.

The Thunder have had a player score at least 16 points in the fourth quarter in 3 of the 4 games (Durant 17 game 1, Durant 16 game 2, and Westbrook 17 game 4), but Miami has come up big when it mattered most.

Will tonight finally be the King's coronation, or will the series head back to the barn for game 6?