Erik Spoelstra Says the Miami Heat Lost Game 4 Due to ‘Karma’


The refs weren’t to blame, nor was it the Indiana Pacers’ dominant inside play (and clear advantage on the boards). According to Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, karma simply wasn’t on the Heat’s side in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Per the Sun-Sentinel: “During his media session Wednesday afternoon at AmericanAirlines Arena, an intense Spoelstra refused to blame the twisted ankles of Chris Bosh and LeBron James on the loss that evened the series at 2-2 with Game 5 set for Thursday night at home. Spoelstra also wouldn’t pile on the Joey Crawford whistle-happy officials, however, he did add, ‘we can all agree to disagree’ with the refs for two controversial calls in the final minute. […] ‘Playoffs are about overcoming everything,’ said Spoelstra, who added that Bosh and James would receive treatment but no other medical update was available. ‘We didn’t necessarily play well. We didn’t get to our identity. We had massive foul trouble all across the board and we have a 3-point lead down the stretch in an opponent’s building and plays to be made to finish off that game. We didn’t. They made more plays down the stretch and typically the team that deserves to win does.’ Spoelstra was more concerned about getting ‘pummeled on the glass’ by 19, including a 34-18 disparity on the offensive boards, and being outscored in the paint 50-32. He was miffed at the lack of pace and spacing that helped cause James to go 1-for-6 in the post against Paul George compared to 5-of-9 in Game 3’s lopsided victory. Spoelstra said this series, ‘was up for grabs,’ and didn’t want to hear about last year’s championship team that overcame a 1-2 deficit to these Pacers and a 2-3 hole to the Celtics. ‘Experience can be a very good teacher but it doesn’t guarantee anything,’ Spoelstra said. ‘We’re in the trench right now. They played with a greater sense of urgency. They made more plays going down the stretch and for that matter during the course of he game, not only offensive rebounds, but loose balls, effort plays, impact plays, imposing plays. Sometimes there’s a karma to the game, so they beat us down the stretch. There’s no excuses, nothing else to it other than that.'”