A Game 3 Reaction

There have been three great games of basketball played in the NBA Finals. The best part? No one has any idea what's going to happen in game four, let alone games four through seven.

We live in the age of hyperbole and overreaction. It's the only way to get ratings. When Oklahoma City came back in game one, it was because the Thunder were truly the better team, and were going to win this championship without a doubt. Nevermind the fact that Miami dominated early and got lazy offensively late. After game two, the narrative focused on OKC's inability to start quickly and Russell Westbrook's responsibility for everything bad that has ever happened to pro basketball in Oklahoma. Nevermind the fact that Miami dominated game two from the tip until about three minutes left, and OKC was within a foul call of forcing Miami to hit a game-winner.

So what's the takeaway from game 3? Hopefully nothing, because both teams gave a good effort throughout, even if the finish wasn't pretty. The Thunder stuck with Miami in the first quarter, and everybody looked correct in saying that was all they needed to do when OKC took a big lead in the third quarter...until the Heat came back and took the lead. Kevin Durant finally came back to earth in the fourth quarter, and James was probably a bit better than him. The heat played its worst quarter with turnovers in the fourth, but the Thunder didn't hit the shots to reclaim the lead.

You know what? Sometimes OKC just isn't going to hit everything in the fourth. Sometimes Durant is going to struggle, just like every other player in the history of every sport ever.

What's going to happen for the rest of this series? Nobody knows. Don't listen to Michael Wilbon saying the Thunder appear to be unraveling. that Don't listen to Stephen A. Smith when he says Scott Brooks blew it by not having "Serge Ibaka, the NBA's leading shot blocka, one of the most dominant rim-protectas we've seen in years," in the game at the end. Don't listen to Skip Bayless when he says whatever he says (that goes for all days, not just following game three of the NBA Finals). It was one game. Both teams were good in the fourth on defense, but neither team was good in the fourth on offense. The NBA is the only league in which great offense seems to beat great defense out. Game four will be different in every way.

So what's on the docket for game four? Hopefully something close and entertaining like game three.