Heat vs. Thunder Game 3: What OKC Must Do to Redeem Game 2 Blunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder have twice gotten off to slow starts against the Miami Heat.

It didn't make any difference in Game 1, but the next time was an entirely different story. The most obvious adjustment at hand, then, is quite obviously to show a bit more urgency in the first quarter, a period the Thunder have lost by a combined 19 points in the first two games of these NBA Finals.

If only it were so easy.

Perhaps head coach Scott Brooks can change a few things about the club's pre-game routines. Maybe the shift to Miami will, in and of itself, translate into more of a do-or-die mentality.

But there are some tactical changes that need to happen, too.

Feed the Hot Hand

Some of the more overblown criticisms of Russell Westbrook's recent play have been admittedly unfounded, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't make a deliberate effort to take a backseat to Kevin Durant. When KD is shooting as well as he was in the second half of Game 2, Westbrook shouldn't be getting his touches at every possible opportunity.

The same goes for James Harden. After a 17-point first half, Harden hardly touched the ball in the last 24 minutes of the game.

That can't happen in this series. This isn't just a matter of how many shots Westbrook is taking, even though the 10-for-26 shooting performance in Game 2 wasn't what you want to see. The more important question is whether the Thunder can keep the ball moving and, more importantly, ensure it's moving to the right hands.

Leave Anyone But Shane Battier Open

At this point, Battier is a more dangerous spot-up shooter from behind the arc than anyone on Miami's roster—including LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. 

The problem isn't a matter of matchups; it has more to do with defensive rotations.

When help defenders leave Battier, he's making them pay. OKC could take its chances and hope he starts missing some open shots, but it would be better off forcing someone else to actually make some open shots.

Mario Chalmers was just 1-for-7 in Game 2, and even Miami's best players do most of their damage penetrating or hitting mid-range jumpers. OKC's help defense will need to rotate accordingly.

Rebound

The Thunder are typically at their best when running the open floor, both to create their own opportunities and to get back on transition defense. 

But in a world where Chris Bosh is pulling down 15 rebounds (including eight on the offensive end), something has to change. 

That could mean one of a few things. 

The Thunder could take an "all hands on deck" approach, asking the guards to mix it up in the paint and fight for some boards. Alternatively, they could commit to leaving larger lineups on the floor and forgo the "small ball" lineups that leave only one of either Kendrick Perkins, Serge Ibaka or Nick Collison on the floor.

Either way, the game will slow down for the Thunder to some degree. But we learned an important lesson in Game 2: Just because you try to run against Miami, doesn't mean the Heat will let you. A counter-intuitive change of pace may be a necessity for OKC at this point.