Sixers hope to extend streaky series in Game 5

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Posted: 2:18 p.m.

By John R. Finger
CSNPhilly.com

MIAMIIts not often that a team jumps out to a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series and then figures it needs to make adjustments. Then again, its not very often that a team comes one victory away from a sweep by counterpunching, either.

Nevertheless, as the Sixers and Heat get set to square off in Game 5 on Wednesday night at American Airlines Arena, the 76ers are preparing for a change in game plan from the Miami Heat. Apparently the early, double-digit leads the Sixers have built in three of the four games have exposed something in Miami.

And clearly the Heat dont like it.

Any time you lose a game you definitely want to take it up a notch, said Thaddeus Young during Wednesday mornings shoot around. Weve been trying to beat those guys all season long and we finally got one and its a matter of getting three in a row now. We know its going to be a tough task and theyre definitely going to come out and try to hit us in the face, but we have to punch them first.

Its been that quick flurry of punches that has helped the Sixers battle the Heat until the waning moments of three of the four games in the first-round series, though it was a 10-0 run to close out Game 4 that gave the Sixers their lone victory in the series. Nevertheless, Doug Collins team built up sizable first quarter leads throughout the series. There was a 14-point lead in Game 1; the team took a 9-0 lead and lead by 10 throughout the opening frame in Game 3, and led by 15 midway through the first quarter in Game 4.

Interestingly, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra subbed in Joel Anthony and Mario Chalmers for starters Mike Bibby and Zydrunas Ilgauskas early in Game 4 and went into the first half with a two-point lead. It makes one wonder if the Heat will shake up the starting lineup for Game 5 to combat the slow starts.

We know they have been talking a lot about energy to start the game, so hopefully were prepared to take on that onslaught of emotion and, hopefully, after the five minute mark, were in good shape, Collins said.

Still, its not like the Sixers have been morning glories by peaking early and then dying off as the game progresses. If anything, the series has been defined by its streakiness, particularly those late in games. For instance, the Sixers 10-0 run to close out Game 4 came over a 90-second span with the Heat holding a six-point lead.

It was also a game where the Heat went on a 22-2 run during the second quarter in what was mistaken to be the death knell for the Sixers.

Weve been punched in the mouth a few times in this series, Collins said. After Game 2 we showed great resiliency and I thought we bounced back. In Game 2, I thought our poor shooting just really sucked the life out of us. We just couldnt make a basket. But in Game 1, they were up 16 and we pushed back and got it to within one.For the most part weve answered all those emotional surges theyve thrown at us.

Still, the Sixers cant continue to play with fire and Collins knows it.

We cant give up a 22-2 run Wednesday night, though. We cant play through that, Collins said. We got fortunate the other day because we had such a great start that we had a cushion, but we cant let them hit us like that tonight.

Certainly the Sixers are aware of what has occurred in other playoff series, too. So far there have been five elimination games and the team trailing in the series has won three of them. There are three more elimination games in the NBA on Wednesday night, three more scheduled for Thursday night, and, needless to say, the Sixers are hoping to host another one on Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Were heading back home after the game tonight and were hoping to take them with us, Collins said.

E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet

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