MIAMI — He has spoken with his former coaches, guys who trained him in high school and college. He has received calls of encouragement from the top to the bottom of the Thunder organization. But James Harden is fully aware the only person who can help him get out of his NBA Finals funk is James Harden.
“They’re telling me to stick with it,” Harden, his left hand surrounded by an ice bag and elastic bandage, said yesterday of the calls of encouragement, including one from Thunder general manager Sam Presti, he has received. “He said, ‘You put in the work every single day so stick with it and just try to be consistent and stay positive.’ Things like that help me, helps everybody in that locker room have that positive energy.”
Well, the Thunder need all the help they can get. Oklahoma City faces a 3-1 deficit against the Heat, who can close it out tonight in Game 5. No team, in 30 different scenarios, ever has come back from 3-1 down to win the finals.
“All of us understand the mood,” Harden said. “No team, has ever come back from 3-1 in the finals, but we’ll try to make history.”
Harden is coming off back-to-back 2-of-10 shooting games. The third prong in Oklahoma City’s version of the Big Three has failed horribly in two defeats on the biggest stage.
“Can’t worry about what other people are talking about. It’s just go and play,” Harden said.
LeBron James still felt a little soreness yesterday from his Game 4 bout with leg cramps. But he said he was feeling much better.
“A lot better,” said James, who pointed out how he simply was walking better. “I’m still a little sore because of the muscles just kind of being at an intense level, very tight. ... I was able to get some treatment last night. I was able to get some treatment this morning. ... But I think I’m going to use today as an opportunity to continue to improve my legs.”
Though the Heat knocked down 10-of-26 3-pointers in Game 4, the Thunder were a woeful 3-of-16.
“We’ve just got to play the right way,” Kevin Durant said. “We’ve got to find each other. James [Harden] missed three wide open 3’s that looked good. I missed a few wide-open ones. We had some good looks. Unfortunately, they didn’t fall.”
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James Harden, Thunder, Thunder, Sam Presti, Oklahoma City
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