Thunder vs Heat: Can OKC Go Home Again? (2012 NBA Finals Game 5 Preview)

Game Thread at 8PM CST

The Miami Heat vs The Oklahoma City Thunder

Time: 8:00 PM Central Standard Time

Place: The AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami Florida

TV: ABC

Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1), 790 AM The Ticket

Enemy Blog(s): Peninsula is Mightier, Hot Hot Hoops

Series Results: Game 1, Game 2, Game 3, Game 4 (Heat lead 3-1)

2012 NBA Finals Series Preview

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Here we are. The Thunder are staring at a 3-1 deficit and heading into the belly of the beast on Miami's home court. All of the twists and turns of the playoffs including sweeps, comebacks, and the meeting of the 2 best players in the league culminate in a Game 5 tonight that could potentially end it all.

Whatever we see at the end of tonight's 48 minutes, remember this - the anticipation for tonight's Game 5 is the very reason we follow sports.

The greatest thing about pressure-packed situations is not even necessarily the event itself, but these few hours in between when our mind conjures up all sorts of scenarios that take us from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. In one moment we're imagining the worst possible scenario where the Heat are running wild over a despondent Thunder team. They are dancing on the court while the Thunder stare vacantly.

In the next moment though we remember that the Thunder have not lost 4 consecutive games in a long, long time. Durant, Westbrook, Perkins...those are proud men who are not ready to see this season close and are dedicated to fighting until the end. OKC can win Game 5, which means there's a Game 6...the home crowd...the 'Peake...there is hope.

One game, one win changes everything.

So what will happen tonight? The Heat are primed to capture LeBron's 1st title, James is playing better than he ever has before, the Heat role players are stepping up, the team is rebounding like champs, and they want to celebrate on their home court.

OKC can win anyway.

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Prediction: Thunder 99, Heat 98