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4th quarters have been ‘winning time’ for Heat

By WTOP Staff

TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James has perhaps a surprising take on the Miami Heat: To him, they’re not the most talented bunch.

Yes, he was serious.

In James’ eyes, much of Miami’s success hasn’t been primarily about talent, but more about execution and know-how — especially so in the closing moments of games, the stretch that the Heat have long called “winning time.” Fourth quarters have been a strength lately for the Heat, something they hope is the case again on Saturday when their Eastern Conference title series against the Indiana Pacers resumes in Miami.

“We’re talented, but we’re not that talented,” James said. “We have a really, really good team. We have some very talented guys. We’re not the most talented team, I don’t think, in the NBA. There’s a lot of other talented teams. We have some very, very high-IQ basketball players. And I think IQ is more important than talent.”

James wouldn’t say which teams he thinks are more talented.

But there’s no arguing which team has been the best in the last two seasons — and the way the Heat close games are a big reason why that’s the case.

They’ve called it “winning time.”

It’s not a new thing for Miami, either.

There was the 28-15 fourth quarter that blew open a tied Game 7 against Boston in the 2012 East finals, the rally from eight down entering the fourth to oust Chicago in last season’s second round, the 30-19 run in the fourth to eliminate Brooklyn in this year’s second round — and of course, the season-saving comeback that included Ray Allen’s unforgettable 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation against San Antonio in Game 6 of last year’s NBA Finals.

“I think everybody becomes more focused,” Allen said.

Miami evened up these East finals at a game apiece with a strong finishing kick during Game 2 in Indianapolis, when the Heat were essentially carried by James and Dwyane Wade on the way to outscoring the Pacers 25-20 in what became a four-point win. Indiana had been 54-3 this season when leading after three quarters.

“When we follow and pay attention to what a team has been doing in the first three quarters, by the time we get to that fourth-quarter situation, when one of us creates a trigger somebody is going to have a good look at a shot and typically it’s going to be a shot that’s pretty much in one of our wheelhouses,” Allen said. “You just do your job at that point in the game.”

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra preaches daily about the importance of habits, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the final 12 minutes of games. Over their last seven games, Miami has been outscored by 19 points in the first through third quarters — but outscored its opponents by a combined 39 points in the fourth quarters during that span.

Winning time, indeed.

“We’re just confident that if we stay in the game and we stay with it mentally, that we’ll eventually have that breakthrough,” Heat forward Udonis Haslem said. “We say that a lot. We definitely throw that out there. Most importantly, we remind each other to mentally stay with it, through the ups, through the downs. People don’t give us a lot of credit because they think it’s all talent, but we’re a very mentally strong group of guys.”

Some of the stats in fourth quarters of these playoffs are eyepopping.

James is averaging 7.3 points in the closing period, the best rate of anyone still in the playoffs. Wade is shooting 59 percent in the final 12 minutes, 8 percent better than his clip in the opening three quarters of playoff games. The Heat are shooting an NBA-best 47 percent from 3-point range in those final quarters, and Miami is getting nearly two assists for every turnover committed in that crucial time.

“All of our habits that we’ve built over the years of playing together, year in and year out, I like to feel like those habits come into play when you get tired, when you’ve seen everything that everyone has to throw at you all game,” Wade said. “Now it’s about, ‘How can you execute when you’re tired? How is your will to win the ball game?’ And I think more times than not we feel we have a good chance to win those games.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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