Heat would love to end series Sunday
LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat looks on in the first half against the New York Knicks. (May 3, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
There's something nice about winning a big game on the road, says LeBron James. There would be something satisfying about eliminating the Knicks on their own floor, about seeing the Knicks' fans -- who profanely serenaded James in Game 3 -- heading silently toward the exits with time still left on the clock Sunday afternoon.
"I love playing on the road," James said. "I love the adversity that comes with it. It's always fun for me . . . This is an opportunity that is in front of us, so why not go for it? We're in a position where we can close this series out."
Beating the Knicks would give the Heat a sweep of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. It also would make a statement about the Heat and how it is doing things differently this year.
A year ago, the Heat had a 3-0 lead on the 76ers in the first round but lost Game 4 in Philadelphia when the 76ers hit some big three-pointers down the stretch. Miami won in five games, but the Heat believes it's something it can improve on.
"In the Philly series last year, we were playing a good game but then they got some shots to fall and got their confidence," Dwyane Wade said. "We can't relax. We can't let a team get comfortable, especially at home. We have to learn from our mistakes."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said his team understands the challenge that is being presented in Game 4.
"We see tomorrow as an opportunity," Spoelstra said after practice Saturday at the Garden. "We know they will come in playing with a great amount of desperation here in front of their fans, but we know it is a great opportunity for us."
A win would give the Heat some much-needed rest before the next round of the playoffs. The Heat is the third-oldest team in the league, according to Wade, and he believes his team needs to seize the chance to get a longer break before the start of the Eastern Conference semifinals. "To try to get some rest is ideal," Wade said. "We want to take care of business and get a little time off."
Perhaps no one is pulling harder for a sweep than Chris Bosh, whose wife gave birth to their son on Wednesday. Bosh, who twice has flown in a private plane back to Miami while his teammates are in New York, would love to have some down time.
"It's huge," Bosh said when asked what it would mean to close out the series Sunday. "It would get us off our feet and get us back on the court again in practice. It would give us some extra time to work on our chemistry on the court. It's huge."
