This series will go to at least 6 games, partially due to the talent of both teams, partially due to the NBA wanting to draw out the series, more games = more money for the league. If some of the contentious fouls on Durant are left alone and he gets as much freedom from the refs as LeBron, OKC should win.

Game will be close in the 4th, but OKC will be cooler under pressure like they were in game 1. OKC by 4

Not denying that all leagues want more games, but I don't know that they could micro-manage games as you suggest. One ref doing it consistently could be picked up by statisticians. Multiple refs doing it increases the chance for league-destroying leaks.

In case it's useful to anyone, the Havelock showed Game 3 on a projector screen earlier this week and I think they're doing the same again today.

Isaac, as usual is a voice of reason. Referees are human, they make mistakes - and while I think they should be held accountable, there is very rarely an ulterior motive should they call a game incompetently.

If Miami wins today I think they'll win it all 4-2.

If OKC wins, you never know. Series will probably go 7.

Durant needs more shots, they need to give Lebron different defenders to change up his looks, and they should use Boston's strategy of doubling/pressuring Wade since he is undersized and isn't as good a passer as Lebron.

Harden needs to flat out knock some big shots down.

Isaac it's not hard to micro-manage games at all. Whether it be by putting a player in foul trouble, certain 50-50 no calls etc. It's quite obvious at least from my perspective that they do this. For example, how many times will you see a team be cruising in the 2nd half with a comfortable 10 point lead. All of a sudden there are a few more whistle blows, the opposition gets to the line more and then the game is closer again.

There is almost a "template" that can be observed over the last few years in regards to playoff series. Game 1 more often than not is a comfortable win to the home side, by around 8-12 points. Game two is much closer, always goes down to the wire, the away team tends to get more calls in this game. Game 3 usually a comfortable win to the home team. Game 4 similar to game 2. Game 5 the refs tend to let them play more if it's 2-2.

It just annoys me that there are plenty of games in the playoffs where I don't even bother watching because I can accurately gauge what will happen during the course of the match. And I'm positive that I'm not the only one..

Anyway back to the game... Durant with a rough call to open the 3rd. Clear block of Wades shot. Heat player smarter in 2nd qtr. Westbrook is a damn good scorer but it's so frustrating the way his tunnel vision prevents him from seeing Durant wide open at times. Battier doing great job of denying Durant the ball too

Still close but I'd be feeling pretty good if I were a heat fan. The Heat are confident and their game plan is working, whereas the thunder are missing defensive assignments and are playing too much iso offensively. Can't watch final qtr but if I had to bet I'd say the heat will scrape home again

James with almost a triple-double with 10min to go...

Westbrook 11pts in last quarter so far...

If you can predict the games based on officiating as well as you say you can, Chewy, then obviously you've made a tonne betting on them, right?

Complete bullshit.

So Lebron finally gets his ring.

About the same age as MJ got his first one, too...

Guess that blows Chewy's prediction out of the water? Or is it a conspiracy that the league wants Lebron to "get" his first ring?

Well done Lebron

Should have kept your mouth shut Chewy. Someone must have let Stern know you were onto him.

The lack of contribution by Harden has been the difference in this series so far.

Well Mick, over the last 4 years I've made enough $$$ off of betting to pay for multiple overseas trips as well as purchasing a few investment properties. I'd say I know more about sporting patterns and idiosyncrasies than you believe me to.

The biggest mistake anyone can make is believing that sport (especially in America) is an even battle. It's not, it's a multi-million dollar enterprise designed to make money. Take the Yankees of the MLB: do you really think that the MLB is a level playing field when teams like the Yankees have a 200 million dollar payroll? Same goes for teams like the Lakers and Celtics in the NBA, two teams who are iconic in basketball but would be screwed over majorly with a hard cap. Then there's the Oakland Raiders of the NFL who front office officials I've spoken directly to in person understand that the Raiders will never receive any favours from the NFL be it on or off the field, with documentation of the "Raiders vs the NFL" theory dating as far back as the 70s with the Immaculate Reception.

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that there are some people in sporting administrations who bend the rules to un-level what is supposed to be a level playing field.

How much did you loose today then Chewy?

lose.

Sorry but some bullshit is flowing here. Investmet proerties from sports punting. Yeah sure.

"Westbrook needs to pass the ball more..when he scores so much they hardly ever win"

Oh my god. I dont want to hear it. That is disgusting. The dude scores 43 points and you find a way to critique his game. Horrible

If you want to blame someone, blame Harden, because he wasn't aggressive and confident in his abilities.

Just because I've made a fair bit of $$$ through betting doesn't mean I'm a full time gambler, so I lost nothing today. Time to kick back and enjoy the Wednesday races on SKY and TVN.

Completely agree MACDUB. Harden was Soften out there in game 4. Dude has been soft and looking for special treatment ever since Artest elbowed him. He's gotta "Harden" up :P

The theory that when Chalmers fires, the Heat win has been proven again...

Any team that lets Mario f*cking Chalmers go for 25 points in a make-or-break game should be ashamed of themselves. Harden playing passive is another huge factor.

And Chewy? Turn it up, mate.

Chewy, they might tinker with larger rules to encourage a healthy league (e.g., NBL not requiring guarantees to keep some teams in the league), but as I said, specific instructions to one ref would stand out (e.g., Donaghy) and to multiple refs would be a risk of a serious leak that would potentially derail a league and everything that goes with it.

If teams make adjustments to the flow of the series it's because they're studying strategy and game tape, tweaking their game plan, rallying when threatened or feeling confident, etc. If there are consistent patterns, it's more likely because the home-away format is often also consistent and players are human in that they react to these things in a consistent manner.

A team is coasting with an easy lead you say, and the other team rallies, more energy, more contact, more calls from the refs needing to be made. That's sport! This ain't Computer Assistance in NBA Jam!

The baseball and basketball teams you described are seriously iconic and powerful brands. There would be more interests working towards higher spending than not - the player associations for one. The NBA tried to ditch the soft cap just recently and we had a lockout because the NBPA denied that! You cannot put that on the NBA!

You also can't use the Lakers and Celtics to argue for 50-50 calls favouring little Oklahoma City, right? The NBA would've found a way to get the Knicks there if it were so trivial.

The league would be hopeful of a longer series, definitely. But I don't think they'd interfere with something like refereeing as you described to achieve that.

Have OKC never heard of a flex cut? Durant needs to move to get the catches he wants. He's had a disappointing series, it was a chance to become a man, but he is obviously not ready to be on the big stage. He better tell his teammates "look at the number on my back, that's how many shots I will take tonight".

Also, Westbrook did play a good game, but not a smart one. Fair enough he gets good looks at the rim, but just because he scored, that doesn't mean that another person wouldn't score if they moved the ball on a bit.

This is where the 2-3-2 Finals format is unfair. The Thunder are on the back foot, and could sorely use home support in game 5. What's more, they deserve it as the higher-ranked team.

Yeah, the onus should be on the away team to come back and snatch it, not the other way around.

Anyone think that it is over next game? I think James and Wade are going to have huge games and close it out at home

OKC defence for a finals is poor..durant d doesn't exist unless he decides to use his length and block..no one on help d, anyone layups does lebron get, make him shoot!