LeBron Will Be ____ Against the Spurs Tonight

LeBron and the Heat trail the hot Spurs 2-1. Game four is tonight in San Antonio. Miami can’t lose this one, right? Wait, allow me to rephrase that – LeBron can’t let Miami lose this one, right? Given his history in enormous playoff games on the road, I feel confident in predicting a Heat victory, regardless of whether or not Tony Parker plays. Here’s why: 

LeBron will go Beast Mode, like he did against the Pistons in 2007 when he played for the Cavaliers. This performance, to me, is definitely one of the Top 5 playoff performances in NBA history: 48 points (10-of-14 FTs), nine rebounds, seven assists. Cavaliers 109, Pistons 107 in 2 OT. It came on the road in Game 5, and late in the 4th and in the overtimes, it was all LeBron: he scored Cleveland’s final 25 points and 29 of its last 30. Reminder: The Pistons were the 2nd best defensive team in the NBA that year, and Tayshaun Prince – who checked LeBron – was 2nd team All-Defense.

LeBron will go Beast Mode, like he did against the Pacers in 2012. Down 2-1 to Indiana, on the road, LeBron went bananas – 40 points (12-of-16 FTs), 18 rebounds, nine assists in Miami’s 101-93 victory. They didn’t lose another game in the series. Are you noticing a trend here? On the road, pivotal game, lots of free throws, lots of everything.

LeBron will go Beast Mode, like he did against the Celtics in 2012. Down 3-2 to Boston, on the road, LeBron had his most impressive performance in a Heat jersey – 45 points (19-of-26 FGs), 15 rebounds, five assists. This jaw-dropping performance is regarded as perhaps his finest ever, and Miami won five of its next six playoff games to capture the title.