Russell Westbrook's 43 points was not enough to lead the Thunder past Miami in Game 4 on Tuesday night in Miami./AP Photo

Just a week ago, Oklahoma City had won its fifth consecutive playoff game to take a 1-0 series lead in the NBA Finals.

The Thunder had taken four straight against the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals and disposed of the Miami Heat in Game 1 by 11 points, 105-94.

Now they’ve lost three straight to Miami by a total of 16 points.  The Heat beat them in Game 4 on Tuesday night, 104-98, despite having a 17-point, first-quarter lead and Russell Westbrook going bonkers with 43 points.

If the Thunder lose Thursday night in Miami, their season will end on a four-game skid just San Antonio’s did at their hands.

Wouldn’t that be ironic.

Can OKC avoid this early of an elimination and force a Game 6 at home? Sure, but this franchise is going to through the same process great teams had to do before signing free agents to win now, not later.

The Detroit Pistons had to get through the Boston Celtics before winning back-to-back titles (1989-90). The Chicago Bulls had to get through the Pistons before winning three straight championships. (1991-93).

The Thunder’s time will come as they will learn from these 2012 finals:

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Has the time come for 3-time MVP LeBron James to win his first R-I-N-G? OKC doesn't think so./AP Photo.

Got to stick my with pick.

Before the season started, I picked the Miami Heat as one of the five favorites to win it all.

Before the NBA playoffs, I picked them to win it all.

Now with Game 1 of the NBA Finals about to start in a few hours, the Heat are right where they’re supposed to be, but face the team I picked they’d meet in the finals – the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Oh boy.

The Thunder are serious, folks.

They play fast, can score as will, defend the paint and their Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden are not only shot makers, but shot takers.

None of them are afraid to launch when all is on the line.

It’s hard to beat a team like that.

The Heat have the team to do it, but are they up to the challenge?

This isn’t the New York Knicks, who had talent, but couldn’t put it together in time to really challenge them.

This isn’t the Indiana Pacers, who although physical and tough, lacked the experience to put a team way.

This isn’t the Boston Celtics, who are savvy vets that ran out of gas.

This is Oklahoma City. The Thunder have the NBA’s best fans, just beat the league’s best team in San Antonio four straight times after the Spurs had won 20 games in a row.

However, this is LeBron James’ time.

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LeBron James and Dwyane Wade must take over or find themselves watching the NBA Finals from home./AP

60.

That’s the magic number.

With Chris Bosh out with an abdominal injury that will take 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 weeks to heal depending on who you believe, the Miami Heat need their two superstars – LeBron James and Dwyane Wade – to average at least 60 points in order for the Heat to get past the Indiana Pacers and win it all.

Right now, James and Wade are averaging a combined 46.6 points in this Eastern Conference semifinals series that the Heat are trailing 2-1 heading into Sunday’s Game 4 in Indianapolis.

James is at 27.3 a game. Wade 19.3.

That’s not enough.

In desperate times, the superstars get it done.

Ten years ago, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant showed us all how.

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If the Lakers can't figure out the 2-3 zone, Suns coach Alvin Gentry will stick with it.

Did Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry seek advice from Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim about this or what?

The Suns’ 2-3 zone has made life miserable for the Los Angeles Lakers as they have tied the series, 2-2, after losing the first two games in Los Angeles. Game 5 is tonight in Los Angeles.

 I mean, we all know Boeheim is the master of the 2-3 zone on the collegiate level. Syracuse’s nickname is Orange and the Suns wear orange, too, right?

Phoenix gave up an average of 126 points in its two defeats against the Lakers. In their two wins, the Suns haven’t allowed more than 109 points in either game.

 Now the Lakers are still scoring a ton of points and Kobe Bryant can guy any defense, but here’s the problem.

1. The Suns are resting on defense, so to speak, in that zone, which helps their offense.

2. Since the Lakers don’t have a point guard that can penetrate and break the zone down, they just swing the ball around. The triangle offense is designed to go a man-to-man defenses, not zones. So Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown have to make open perimeter. Derek Fisher and Bryant can, but those other guys I just mentioned are not as money from deep.

3. The Lakers are an inside team and the zone allows Phoenix to help more in defending Pau Gasol. Even though the Suns are smaller, more bodies Gasol discourages the passer from throwing the ball in the paint.

The Orlando Magic are the only team that hasn't lost a game in this year's NBA playoffs.

Well, let me rephrase that.

The Orlando Magic are looking very strong.

They’re 7-0 in the playoffs and just taking Atlanta to the cleaners. Hard to gauge their wins against Atlanta because the Hawks are so disoriented, but Orlando has something to do with that.

After winning Game 3 by 30 points on Saturday, Orlando will close out its Eastern Conference series against the Hawks on Monday in Game 4.

Dwight Howard seems to have adjusted to the fouls, but what’s great about the Magic is they’ve got five guys who can get 20 points at any time.

Hard to guard a team like that. The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to have their hands full with the Magic in the Eastern Conference finals.

I know. I know.

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He may be the shortest guy in the picture, but Derek Fisher (2) hit the two biggest shots of the night in Thursday's Game 4 win for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

The Orlando Magic gave the Los Angeles Lakers new life in this one.

Not a good idea.

They blew a 12-point halftime lead and then after failing to close out the Lakers in regulation, the Magic lost Game 4 in overtime, 99-91, in the NBA Finals on Thursday night in Orlando.

With a commanding 3-1 series lead, the Lakers will try to close out the Magic in Game 5 on Sunday night in Orlando. The reason the Magic are playing their third consecutive home is because in the NBA Finals, it’s a 2-3-2 series format.

Derek Fisher’s 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left forced overtime and then he hit another one off a Kobe Bryant assist to break a tie and put the Lakers up for good with 31.3 seconds left.

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I’m going to let you be the judge.

Did Rafer Alston and Derek Fisher each deserve to get suspended for Game 3 after what they did in Game 2 of their respective series?

Alston did. Can’t slap guys in the head. Fisher? I’m not sure he hit Luis Scola that hard for him to fall like that, but he should get suspended as well. What ya’ll think?

Ron Artest let Kobe Bryant know he's not the one to mess with Wednesday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets turned the intensity up a notch in Game 2.

High volume.

From late in the third quarter to the end of the Lakers’ 111-98 win to tie the series Wednesday night in Los Angeles, the following plays happened in this order.

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