Heat Strike: Miami Holds On For Game 2 Win, 1-1 Finals Tie

VIDEO: NBA Finals Scene Moves To Miami

Heat Outlast OKC, And The NBA Finals Are Perfect

LeBron James had 32 points and a little help from the refs, and the Heat survived another Thunder comeback to tie up the series with a Game 2 win. The NBA Finals can't get much better than this.

NBA Finals Game 2 Ratings Strongest Since 2004

The overnight ratings for Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder are in, and ABC claims it was the most watched Game 2 since 2004. The overnight rating was 11.8 for Game 2, up 12 percent from last year's Game 2 between the Heat and the Dallas Mavericks.

The game peaked in crunch time (11:30-11:45 p.m. ET) with a 15.1, meaning that an estimated 15.1 percent of all households with TVs were tuned in during the span.

The two-game rating is the highest for an NBA Finals series since 2004, ABC says. That year pitted the L.A. Lakers against the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons stunningly won that series and their third NBA championship.

Game 2 on Thursday did a record 44.4 rating in the Oklahoma City market, and a 30.3 rating in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale.

For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. For more on the Thunder, visit Welcome To Loud City.

Does Kevin Durant Think He Was Fouled By LeBron James?

NBA Finals: Is Russell Westbrook The Reason For Thunder Loss?

Russell Westbrook is not without his flaws, of course, but he's proven to be a pretty good player for the Oklahoma City Thunder over the past couple of seasons. Considering he plays alongside Kevin Durant -- one of the best players in the NBA -- however, he's typically blamed whenever Durant has a solid game that still results in a Thunder loss.

That was the case again, for better or worse, following OKC's loss on Thursday night as the Miami Heat tied the series at one game apiece in the NBA Finals. It wasn't difficult to find national media members putting at least partial blame on Westbrook, but the biggest critic seemed to be CBS Sports columnist Gregg Doyel.

The story, to me, was the first five minutes of the game, when the Thunder fell and couldn't get up. Why did they fall? Well, Russell Westbrook is why. And that was apparent from the top row of Chesapeake Energy Arena, where I couldn't tell Perkins from Ibaka or Haslem from Bosh, but I could tell something was wrong with Russell Westbrook.

He was hyper. Distracted. Erratic, out of control. He was doing the one thing he does when he's playing poorly -- he was playing too fast, and this is a guy whose speed is one of his greatest attributes. In the Western Conference finals he chased down Spurs blur Tony Parker, making a play Brooks said couldn't be made by more than two or three guys in the world. Playing fast is what Westbrook does, and he does it well.

Playing too fast? It's also what he does from time to time, and it's his worst quality. He is so quick that he can get any shot he wants, whenever he wants it, but he hasn't learned the discretion to choose wisely. And he chose poorly in the first few minutes of Game 2.

Well, yikes. It's true that Westbrook didn't play his best game of basketball on Thursday night -- in his defense, even Durant wasn't flawless -- but it's kind of troubling to see that he's the one being blamed every time something doesn't go right for the Thunder.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

NBA Finals: OKC Thunder May Need To Think About Lineup Changes

The Oklahoma City Thunder struggled mightily early on Thursday night in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, resulting in the Miami Heat tying the series at one game apiece. Miami went with a new, interesting lineup for the second game of the series, and, if the pundits are right, Scott Brooks might be wise to do the same thing with his Thunder.

The Thunder probably shouldn't think about making any wholesale changes that are going to alter the chemistry, but Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix believes that OKC should play smallball by replacing Kendrick Perkins in the lineup with James Harden.

Shake it up. Brooks has stuck with Kendrick Perkins through good times and bad this postseason, but it may be time to sit the beefy center down. Miami's small lineup leaves it vulnerable under the rim, but the offensively challenged Perkins has not been able to take advantage of the mismatches. He has just eight points in this series, and while he has rebounded well (7.5 per game), Oklahoma City may start experimenting more with a Serge Ibaka/Durant front line.

That combination would allow the Thunder to get James Harden's offense (21 points in Game 2) in the starting lineup and make them more athletic in the open floor. Even with the small lineup, the Heat crushed the Thunder in points in the paint (48-32). Changes, they could be a-coming.

It would seem a bit risky considering Perkins and Ibaka should be able to present mismatches themselves in the right gameplan, but it certainly wouldn't hurt if Harden is able to get hot right off of the bat.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Heat Vs. Thunder: LeBron James Is Shaking The 'Not Clutch' Label

LeBron James and the Miami Heat picked up a big victory on Thursday night to tie the NBA Finals at one game apiece, as the series moves to Florida for the next three contests. Most talking points are likely going to revolve around whether or not a foul should have been called late in the game, but the key to the game was James' play on the other end of the court.

There are plenty of people in the world that seem to revel in the fact that James has yet to win an NBA championship, but the Heat superstar seems to be moving closer to shedding the narrative that he's "unclutch" and "not a closer." The most recent indication came on Thursday night, according to Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen.

The big difference was in LeBron himself. After operating from the perimeter in a Game 1 loss, in which he played to the style of his former self, he opened Game 2 by setting up near the basket and attacking whenever possible. The Heat opened a crucial 18-2 lead, but more impressive was their finishing down the stretch as Russell Westbrook and Durant threatened to see if the Heat would wilt.

It's still early, and there will be many more fourth quarters to be dueled against Durant, but this was the kind of result James had been seeking on the biggest stage, and it was the kind of leadership that made his teammates want to sign up with him. They have been in this together for two years of vilification and second-guessing, and neither Wade nor Bosh has ever publicly regretted having attached his good name to the nasty carnival that has been created around LeBron. They've had faith that a night like this would come.

The Heat will likely have to win the championship -- not just Game 2 -- if James is going to remove the narrative for good. If he's able to keep playing like he has as of late, there's a good chance that happens.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

NBA Finals: Was Kevin Durant As Brilliant As Box Score Indicated?

The Oklahoma City Thunder made a pretty miraculous comeback during the waning seconds in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but it was the Miami Heat who held on for the series-tying victory. The talk of the town is going to surround Kevin Durant and whether or not the officials should have called LeBron James for a foul late in the game, but there's much more to examine when it comes to the Thursday night play of the NBA's leading scorer.

Durant ended the game with a pretty efficient line in the box score with 32 points while shooting 12-of-22 from the floor -- including a pretty solid four of 10 from beyond the arc -- but that wasn't enough to get him a free pass from our friends at Welcome to Loud City. J.A. Sherman, one of SB Nation's excellent Thunder bloggers, actually noted Durant's game as one of the three keys ... and not in a good way.

Kevin Durant shot 4-10 from 3-point range. When morning arrives and you peruse the box score you might be inclined to think that despite the big miss at the end, Durant played pretty well. From my perspective, I thought he played pretty poor offensive ball throughout, and as we've seen over the course of the last 2 seasons, the easiest tell-tale sign is to look at his number of 3-point attempts.

Any time Durant attempts a double-digit number of 3-point shots, it is a clear indication that he is not playing to his strengths. Even though 4-10 is technically a high shooting percentage, when Durant is taking almost half of his shots from beyond the arc it means that he is not getting to the rim, he is not making the defense work, and he is not drawing fouls. Durant only attempted 6 free throws on the night (compared to LeBron's 12-12 effort at the stripe).

Consider the preceding paragraphs were written from the perspective of a Thunder fan. And then, once you're over that, think about how much sense it makes.

Whether or not the officials should have allowed Durant to shoot potentially game-tying free-throws is largely up for debate, but the fact of the matter is Durant should have been looking to get to the free-throw line a lot earlier than that late in the game.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Foul Play: How The Refs Screwed Kevin Durant And The Thunder

Referees tend to swallow their whistles in the closing moments of close games, but when legitimate fouls are not called as occurred in Game 2 of the NBA Finals Thursday night, the impact on the outcome can be just as dramatic.

VIDEO: LeBron James Probably Fouled Kevin Durant On His Game-Tying Shot Attempt

Let's get a few things straight before we get into this analysis of Kevin Durant's missed game-tying shot attempt in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 100-96 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals.

• The reason the Thunder lost was that they fell behind 18-2 to begin the game.
• The Thunder made the right decision to try to go quickly, because they're down two points, caught LeBron James napping and needed to extend the game.
• You often have to club someone in the head to get a foul call in these situations.

All that said ... James definitely fouled Durant here.

As soon as James realized the play was happening, he extended his elbow into Durant's midsection. Before Durant pulled up for the floater, James had his arm under Durant's arm. Here, look:

In almost all situations, that's a foul. Late in a game, I guess it isn't.

To be clear: that's not why the Thunder lost the game. It's just unfortunate that such a great game ended on a questionable non-call.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Thunder Vs. Heat, 2012 NBA Finals Game 2: Miami Holds On For 100-96 Triumph

Once again, the Miami Heat built a big lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals. But this time, Miami held on for a win by holding on for dear life, and the 100-96 victory in Game 2 ties the Finals at 1-1 with the series heading to South Beach.

The Heat bolted from the gate, leading 18-2 and by 12 after the first quarter, and led by as many as 17 points. But Kevin Durant heated up in the fourth quarter, and he and Russell Westbrook (27 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) pulled the Thunder to within two points at 98-96 with under 15 seconds to play and the ball. But Durant couldn't get to 34 points from the 32 he finished with on the night, missing a short jumper while guarded by LeBron James, and the Thunder fell for the first time in OKC in the 2012 NBA playoffs.

James' steady excellence piloted the Heat to this win. He had 32 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and the free-throw shooting that so often bedevils him was a strength on Thursday night as he sank all 12 of his attempts from the line. Dwyane Wade added 24 points for Miami, Chris Bosh had 10 points and 15 rebounds and Shane Battier drained five threes in a 17-point performance.

Now, the series shifts to the Heat's home court. Game 3 takes place Sunday night.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Chris Bosh Misses Another High-Five

Someone please give him lessons.

Erik Spoelstra Reorganizes His Troops, Again

As much as I criticize Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, he has a good sense of knowing when he needs to remind his team that they can’t rely on standing around and watching LeBron James or Dwyane Wade go to work in the fourth quarter. Every so often, Spoelstra calls a late-fourth quarter timeout to draw up a play, the Heat execute it and put away a game.

It looks like it happened again in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Spoelstra has called two straight pick and rolls involving Wade and James, both of which resulted in critical hoops to push the Heat’s lead back to five. James hit a tough shot on the first one, but the second one resulted in a wide open dunk for Chris Bosh after Wade got to the rim.

Running a play, any play, is better than nothing.

LeBron James Hasn't Posted Up Much In The Second Half

Instead, the Heat have been making him drive from the top of the key to the rim, and it hasn’t been that effective. Not sure why Erik Spoelstra went away from this play.

VIDEO: Kevin Durant's Dunk Pushes One Fan's Celebration To New Heights

It's the fourth quarter, which means it's Kevin Durant time. Even though he has five fouls ... even though his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates have played poorly ... even though the Miami Heat have played well ... the Thunder are only down by eight points with plenty of time remaining. That's because Durant went coast-to-coast for what amounted to a statue-esque slam dunk on Shane Battier.

Here's the video.

As you'd probably expect, Twitter exploded after that slam. Still, nobody outdid this Thunder fan's reaction.

This woman is clearly ready for T-shirt time.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Heat Have To Keep Running Their Offense

The Thunder are charging hard, and I’m getting concerned if I’m a Heat fan. Obviously, you have to be worried about the Thunder finding their legs offensively, but it also looks like the Heat have started to ball-watch a bit offensively. They need to keep running their sets instead of relying on their stars to bail them out.

So far, they’ve gotten a lot of bail-out shots. Will that continue?

Derek Fisher Defends Russell Westbrook

This only confirms my conspiracy theory that Derek Fisher is acting as a Lakers secret agent designed to sabotage the Thunder.

Kevin Durant Has Five Fouls

… And the fifth foul was a dumb one, going over the back on Udonis Haslem to try to get a rebound he had no chance of getting.

Scott Brooks is leaving him in for now, as he should. The Thunder are down 11 at home early in the fourth quarter. If they can’t make a run now, there won’t be any crunch time.

LeBron James Has Taken One Shot Outside Of 16 Feet

He has taken 17 shots and eight free throws in this game.

Erik Spoelstra And Udonis Haslem, Separated At Birth

Besides Dwyane Wade, no Heat player has been with the franchise for longer than Udonis Haslem. Along the way, he’s picked up some of coach Erik Spoelstra’s facial expressions.

Observe:

Like Clockwork, Thunder Play Better With A Small Lineup

It took over half of the third quarter for Scott Brooks to realize that he can’t play with both of his starting big men against the Heat’s small lineup. Finally, he took Serge Ibaka out to rest, putting in James Harden and playing Kevin Durant at power forward. The Thunder have scored four straight points, including an uncontested layup for Russell Westbrook.

Is it really so hard for Brooks to match the Heat’s small lineup?

Thunder Continuing To Have Problems Guarding Heat's Small Lineup

Just like in the first quarter, the Miami Heat’s small starting lineup, with Chris Bosh at center and Shane Battier at power forward, is giving the Oklahoma City Thunder’s defense problems. It’s really hard to defend a team when they can space the floor that beautifully and have such great pick and roll players. I have to admit: I really don’t know what the Thunder can do schematically to counter this lineup. They just need to go small themselves.

Worse, it appears the Thunder’s defensive problems are affecting them on the offensive end. The ball is sticking too much.

Thunder Vs. Heat, 2012 NBA Finals Game 2: Miami On Top 55-43 Entering Halftime

Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat is underway on Thursday night. The Heat came out roaring as the Thunder had problems shooting. Entering halftime, the Heat are on top by a score of 55-43.

The Heat immediately came out guns blazing and quickly secured a double-digit lead. All told, the Heat outscored the Thunder 27-15 in the first quarter. The Thunder began regrouping but were hit with a questionable goaltending call with just under 6:00 left in the second quarter, after which the Heat secured a defensive rebound and Shane Battier drained a three-pointer to put Miami back up by 13.

The Thunder struggled to get shots to fall past the midpoint of the second quarter and the Heat jumped out to a 51-34 with 2:09 left in the half. OKC managed to snap off one last significant run in the last two minutes to close the gap back to 12.

Serge Ibaka has been an absolute monster for the Thunder on defense, including four massive blocks and four rebounds. LeBron James has 14 points for the Heat in the first half, while Dwyane Wade is close behind with 13 and Chris Bosh, starting for the first time in five games, has 10 points and 10 rebounds. James Harden is leading Oklahoma City scoring with 17 points.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Chris Bosh Is Terrible At High Fives

A high five is an easy thing to pull off for 95 percent of the human population. All you have to do is coordinate your open fist with the open fist of another human being. I’m no athlete, and even I can do it.

So why can’t Chris Bosh?

After the Heat won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, Bosh whiffed on a high five at center court. Now, after an especially good stretch in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he can’t even get it right with a teammate. Observe:

The only way Bosh gets off is if Ronny Turiaf faked him out on purpose. Otherwise, c’mon Chris. Get it together.

Thunder's Offense Is Too Stagnant

Finally, the regular season Oklahoma City Thunder offense has returned. After showing beautiful ball and player movement for the past several games, the "stand around and watch" offense has made an appearance. Thunder coach Scott Brooks pleaded with his team to pass the ball or set a screen … and they responded by holding the ball, passing to Kevin Durant 35 feet from the hoop and standing still as Durant forced a three.

The Heat have done a great job of keeping Durant from catching the ball in his favorite spots, but the Thunder have to pick it up.

Thunder's Reward For Blocking Chris Bosh's Shot Twice? A Goaltend

Sporting News’s David Steele said it best: You shouldn’t get two points for having your shot blocked twice like Chris Bosh did here. Sure, you could argue that Serge Ibaka committed a goaltend here, but come on. If anything, Bosh should be docked two points.

The Heat's Attention To Detail Is Great

The Miami Heat have a tendency to sometimes forget to do what most commentators call "the little things." You know, the basket cuts to occupy the defense, the screens to keep things moving, that kind of stuff.

That’s why they have to be thrilled that LeBron James set an unbelievable screen in transition to free Shane Battier for a three-pointer and a 13-point Heat lead midway through the second quarter. The Heat’s starts are great, but they often forget the importance of these selfless plays. That James took the time to do it shows how locked in he is.

Serge Ibaka: Doing More Than Blocking Shots

Yes, Serge Ibaka has three blocks in Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals, including this memorable one on LeBron James, but his impact goes beyond that. The Thunder’s defense has really stepped up in this second quarter, closing off the driving lanes that were once open to the Heat, and Ibaka’s positioning defending pick and roll is the big reason why.

James Harden has all the points, but I’d argue Ibaka has made a bigger impact on the game.

VIDEO: Serge Ibaka Denies LeBron James, Swipes Dikembe Mutombo's Finger Wag

When LeBron James gets a head of steam going to the basket, nobody can block his shot. That is, except for Serge Ibaka.

The Thunder big man is known for his highlight blocks and he came up with a beautiful one on James to end the first quarter. James easily got by Thabo Sefolosha and cocked his right hand like he always seems to do. Normally, this means a thunderous slam and a series of "ooohs" from the peanut gallery. This time, Ibaka decided to meet him at the rim and send it back.

Almost everything about this was great. The only thing that wasn't? Ibaka swiping Dikembe Mutombo's signature finger-wag move. I expect Ibaka to pay a hefty fee for licensing that move.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

At Least James Harden Is Ballin'

The one good piece of news for the Thunder? James Harden is playing much, much better. With Mike Miller guarding him, Harden has gone to work, swishing a mid-range jumper, driving to the rim and hitting his first three shots.

I think Scott Brooks made a mistake waiting to put Harden into the game. Had he been inserted sooner, this Heat lead wouldn’t be so big.

Thunder's Double Teams Have To Be Better

The Miami Heat’s 15-point first-quarter lead is due to their renewed emphasis on posting up their stars. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have dominated their matchups on the block, with Wade baiting Kevin Durant into his second foul with a shot fake.

This is a really smart strategy for Miami, as Jeff Van Gundy noted, because it slows the game down. But it’s also one that can be countered with stronger double teams. The Thunder are doing a very bad job of digging down and shrinking the floor when the ball goes into the post, giving James and Wade all the room they need to go to work.

Oklahoma City has to clean that up, and fast.

Shane Battier's Screen Took Out Two People

Shane Battier's screen was so surprising that he took himself out with it. Or, he flopped. Whichever it is probably depends on your favorite team.

OK, fine. He flopped.

Chris Bosh At Center Opens Up The Floor For Dwyane Wade, And Other Observations

It’s early, but it appears that Erik Spoelstra made a very good decision to start Chris Bosh at center with Shane Battier, rather than Udonis Haslem. Bosh’s presence has opened up the floor for the Heat offensively, which has been huge for Dwyane Wade in particular. Wade already has one layup on a pick and roll and nearly got another after a strong basket cut.

Wade’s making a concerted effort to use the open space, but it’s critical that the open space be there. It wasn’t in Game 1.

Other early observations:

-LeBron James is on Kevin Durant, and so far, the Heat are asking him to fight through every screen. No more switching. Save for one Durant jumper in transition, James has done a great job.
-Really liked the transition pick and roll between James and Wade that got James a layup. Need to see more of that.
-The Heat aren’t trapping Durant coming off curls, which is a departure from their normal strategy.
-Kendrick Perkins has been very good inside, grabbing offensive rebounds with Battier guarding him. Given how much the Heat have gained elsewhere by going small, though, I think they’ll live with that.

We Have A New Candidate For Best Sign Ever

This is simply brilliant.

VIDEO: Sara Evans' National Anthem Performance Wasn't The Best

Very few people can kill my enthusiasm for Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat, but Sara Evans came pretty close. The country music star not only wore hideous neon green pants while singing the national anthem, but droned on for what seemed like forever, holding the wrong notes, slowing the words down and forgetting the cardinal rule of national anthem singing: don't make it about you.

If you care to re-live it, here's the video.

Lest you think I'm alone with this criticism, here's Russell Westbrook's reaction.

I don't blame you one bit, Russell.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Sara Evans' Pants Were Very Loud And Green

ESPN producer No. 1: "SOMEONE TURN DOWN THE BRIGHTNESS AHHHHH MY EYES"

ESPN producer No. 2: (lies writhing in ESPN truck)

Sara Evans: "Whew, y'all didn't ... oh, you did hear that anthem, huh."

NBA Finals 2012: Chris Bosh Will Start Game 2 For Heat

Chris Bosh battled an abdominal strain for a significant portion of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. The Miami Heat were certainly happy to see him return to action during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, but he has been limited and has not started the past four games.

On Thursday night, Bosh will finally be in the starting lineup for the Heat as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals. The Heat are down 0-1 in the series and will be hoping for a big contribution from Bosh to avoid being in a big hole by the time they return home to host Game 3 in the series.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City or check out SB Nation Kansas City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

When Thunder Take Off, They Need To Leave James Harden Behind

The time is ticking on this version of the Thunder due to new luxury tax rules. Game 1 helped show why OKC should choose Serge Ibaka over James Harden.

Kevin Durant Is Difficult To Defend, But Shane Battier Has A Plan

NBA Finals: Miami Heat Need To Be More Aggressive In Game 2

The Miami Heat are obviously going to make some adjustments to their game plan following their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Apart from the things that can be corrected by the coaching staff, though, the players could help out quite a bit if they become more aggressive in Game 2.

It wasn't evident throughout the entire game on Tuesday night, but the Heat seemed a bit more passive than they should have been in the second half. Our friends over at Peninsula is Mightier, SB Nation's Miami Heat blog, put in a pretty firm request that Miami starts going to the rack rather than hoisting up jumpers.

Offensively, the Big Three have to stop settling for so many jump shots. James was the most aggressive of the Heat's stars by far. He made two consecutive straight-line drives to the basket in the third quarter to halt a Thunder run and made two shots in the fourth quarter despite getting fouled both times. But he took a few jumpers on Durant when he could have driven to the basket.

As for the other two, they thoroughly disappointed. Wade made his first two jumpers on the baseline, but attempted way too many jump shots. If someone wants to look at the silver lining for Wade, he did get into the lane much more frequently late in the fourth quarter. Bosh never attempted his signature "pump fake, hard drive" move to the basket in the game. He is a great shooter for a big man, but needs to include some drives to the basket to diversify his game.

There's little doubt that the coaching staff hammered this point home to the Heat players in between Games 1 and 2, but it'll be interesting to see just how aggressive Miami can be as it looks to even the series.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA page.

'Defiant' Dwyane Wade Channels His Inner Toby Keith

Heat Vs. Thunder: Chris Bosh Needs To Step Up In Game 2 ... Or Else

The Miami Heat looked pretty solid through three quarters in the first game of the 2012 NBA Finals, but it was the Oklahoma City Thunder that ended up on top when the final buzzer sounded. There are likely going to be quite a few game plan changes made for Thursday night's Game 2, but it seems quite a few issues could be alleviated if Miami is able to get more out of Chris Bosh.

Bosh missed a significant portion of the earlier NBA Playoffs with an abdominal strain, but the third member of the vaunted "Big Three" has now been back in the lineup for a few games, giving him time to get his playoff legs back. Now that he's had time to re-acclimate himself with the court, Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix writes that it's time to show why he's often mentioned in the same breath as teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Bosh will have to kick it into gear, quickly. The pressure will always be on James to win and the grace period Wade received for winning the title in 2006 has long since expired. But Bosh faces a different kind of scrutiny. He chose to come to Miami, but one more season on the wrong end of a Finals celebration could punch his ticket out of town. The Thunder are proof that you can win without an offensive-minded frontcourt, so long as you have scorers everywhere else. And if a top point guard suddenly becomes available, you can bet Bosh's name will be the first out of Riley's mouth.

In reality, this game might not be as important to Bosh's career as Mannix writes that it is. That said, however, there's no doubt he'd be the easiest member of the Big Three to part with and, if that happens, he'll be scrutinized the rest of his career for failing to help the much-hyped Heat win an NBA Championship after all of the initial fanfare.

For more on the Heat, head over to Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA page.

NBA Finals 2012, Thunder Vs. Heat Game 2: Game TIme, TV Schedule And More

The Heat and Thunder will square off in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.