The Los Angeles Lakers are in the same position they have been in during each of their postseason series this year. They have a 3-1 lead with a chance to put the Miami Heat away, just as they’ve done against the Trail Blazers, Rockets and Nuggets.
After each postseason loss, there were whispers that the Lakers were in trouble but they quickly shut down that talk in each of their first three series.
In the first round, they defeated the Trail Blazers 131-122 in Game 5. In the second round, they defeated the Rockets 119-96 in Game 5. In the Western Conference Finals, they defeated the Nuggets 117-107 in Game 5. Not only have they won, but they’ve yet to have a closeout game go down to the wire.
LeBron James has dominated in all three of those games, averaging 34.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and nine assists per game.
If he and the Lakers can put together one more excellent performance tonight, they will become champions without ever being forced to play in a Game 6.
