There will be mass refunds on brooms, shovels and dustpans at all local Home Depots today – members and fans of the Miami Heat will have no use for them.
The Sixers led early as they had in Games 1 and 3 only to lose both contests. Yesterday in front of another sellout crowd the Sixers scored ten consecutive points including a three pointer by Lou Williams with 8.1 seconds left to give the Sixers a 86-82 victory.
Now the question is can the Sixers get back into this series?
It’s fair to say that the Sixers played one of their best games of the series in Game 1. Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra said after Game 3 that the Sixers poor showing in Game 2 was an “anomaly” adding that “A 10-point lead against the Sixers is like a 3-point lead against anyone else.”
The Sixers have been able to jump on the Heat early to only watch the lead evaporate and in most cases end up playing from behind. From an execution standpoint they have played their best ball in the first and fourth quarters. The 76ers have held their biggest leads
going into the middle quarters only to have a hiccup and play catchup in the fourth.
The Sixers first order is to withstand the early attempt by the Heat to land the knockout punch in the opening minutes – I’m sure the Heat’s players are angry and embarrassed. Worst of all the Boston Celtics are home resting – waiting on them.
The Sixers need to do a better job of rebounding and their overall shot selection during these dry spells must improve. They can’t put away the 
Heat with subpar scoring – their best bet is to go to the hole and crash the boards heavily.
Collins must continue to use Evan Turner in situations where he can be effective. The rookie is riding a good wave right now and the Sixers need to make as many waves as possible to stay in this series. Spencer Hawes and Elton Brand have been effective in the paint. This must continue. Hawes and the rest of the front court must continue to enforce the no lay-up rule no matter who is venturing in there. I don’t know if anyone has noticed but Chris Bosh hasn’t been as dominant as he was in Games 1 & 2.
Finally, the Sixers must turn the intangibles in their favor, by getting to loose balls, and forcing turnovers. They must do anything that will give them a leg up. Miami isn’t offering anything, but the Sixers are going to have to take it.
The season depends on it.
Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding is the key..
If the Sixers can stay about even with Heat in the Rebounding category and have few trurnovers, they can win Game 5 and really put some pressure on the Heat.. but the way I look at it, is that 3 or the 4 games have been very close so far with Philly winning 1 and losing the others, but games 1,3 & 4 all could have gone either way and it’s really about how you finish the games
but you have to be in position first, They Sixers have played very hard and have nothing to be embarrased about if they lose to the Heat in Game 5..
The Sixers can make a series out of it, but it’s going to require that they continue playing exceptional defense and cut down even more of those ill advised long shots where only Heat players are waiting for the rebound if it misses. Rotating Williams, Turner at the end of games while they’re still fresh and letting them slash to the rim old school style against a tired Heat team is paying huge dividends.
Butch good points, Collins is a good strategic coach. He’s using his bench wisely. Turner, lou, even thad tho he hasn’t played well since they’re paying a lot of attention to him are all playing motivated confident ball. I still don’t see them winning this series but if they win wednesday they’d make it interesting