Greg Cote: Lakers in 3-1 command over Heat in NBA Finals, but don't write off Miami just yet

The Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis (3) grabs a rebound against the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo (13) during the fourth quarter in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

The Miami Heat lost Tuesday night to fall into a 3-1 NBA Finals hole against the Los Angeles Lakers. History tells us that is almost a death knell. That the trailing team has a prayer's chance _ but that even the most devout of fans might not to realistically be able to muster much confidence.

Miami fell 102-96 in Game 4 to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

No matter.

The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) grabs a rebound from the Miami Heat's Ben Adebayo during the fourth quarter in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

No matter the result of the next game (or two, or three), the Heat has done itself well. It almost feels as if it has already won at this point, given the hand it was dealt and had to play.

The odds are long now for Miami. We all know it. The math declares it. When you're down 3-1 in a best-of-7 championship series, you have hope ... but, realistically, only if you're a face-painted-in-team-colors kind of fan.

In baseball's World Series the Cubs came from 3-1 down to beat the Indians in 2016. But before that the anomaly had not shown itself since 1985.

The Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis, left, gets a pass off in front of the Miami Heat's Abndre Iguodala during the second quarter in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

In hockey's Stanley Cup Final a team down 3-1 hasn't raised Lord Stanley's chalice since ... 1942.

In the NBA Finals., more pertinently, in league history, only Cleveland, in 2016, has come back from that crater's hole. It was against a Golden State team that had gone a record 73-9 during the season. It was James who engineered that particular miracle.

So it can happen.

The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) is fouled by the Miami Heat's Jae Crowder (99) as Jimmy Butler helps on defense during the fourth quarter in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Now it's LeBron on the other side to make sure it doesn't, against his former team. With Anthony Davis at his side.

Does the Heat look scared?

You could argue it should be.

The Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis celebrates his 3-pointer against the Miami Heat late in the fourth quarter during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Clearly, the Heat is not.

This is the Heat team that steamrolled Indiana in the first round of the playoffs and then eliminated Giannis Antetokounmpo and No. 1 seed Milwaukee in the second.

The Lakers with LeBron and A.D. were supposed to dominate fifth-seeded Miami, which didn't even make the playoffs the year before.

The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James and the Miami Heat's Jae Crowder (99) battle for loose ball during the second quarter in Game 4 of the NBA at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

And that was before starters and key players Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic were lost to injuries in the series.

Dragic remains out with a foot injury, tearfully, as he described it Tuesday. Adebayo played well in his return, though surely not 100 percent.

Do you imagine what this Finals might have looked like had the Heat been full strength?

The Los Angeles Lakers' Kentavious Caldwell-Pope celebrates his 3-pointer in front of the Miami Heat bench during the fourth quarter in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Fair question, actually.

It does make you wonder.

LeBron and Davis combined for 50 points Tuesday night (ho hum). Jimmy Butler had 22, Tyler Herro 21 and Adebayo 15 for the Heat.

The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) and the Miami Heat's Jae Crowder, right, are seperated by referees during the fourth quarter in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

And Game 4 was taut until the finish, even with Miami short-handed.

The Lakers were supposed to be this far, to be in it and win it. . Miami was not.

However the NBA Finals play out from here, it's tough to see this as anything but a positive for the Miami Heat.

The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) tries to break up a pass to the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler during the fourth quarter in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

The Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis (3) blocks a shot by the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler late in the fourth quarter during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)