NBA Finals Schedule 2012: Who Benefits from Lengthy Rest?

After a season that was compressed in every imaginable way, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat will have some downtime for a change in the NBA Finals. 

The NBA Finals will follow a slightly more relaxed schedule, with two days off between Game 2 and Game 3 and another two days rest after Game 5—should the series go that far, of course.

Both teams will benefit from the respites to be sure. After a grueling season with precious few opportunities for guys to catch their breaths, the march to the finish line could use a change of pace. No one will be complaining about that.

But, some stand to gain even more than others.

Chris Bosh

Bosh didn't look especially rusty on Saturday. In 31 minutes of action, he made eight of his 10 field-goal attempts, including an uncharacteristic trio of buckets from behind the arc. Miami's star power forward left little doubt that he's ready to contribute to Miami's title push, but the added breaks can't hurt his attempt to ease back into a rhythm.

After missing nine games with an abdominal strain, head coach Erik Spoelstra has gradually reintegrated Bosh into the lineup. Thanks to the extended break after Game 2, Bosh should be ready for some heavy action by the time this series returns to Miami. 

Russell Westbrook

Westbrook is the epitome of an energy player. He relies heavily on his speed and quickness to get up and down the floor and push the tempo that OKC thrives upon.

Fortunately for Westbrook, the Thunder's postseason hasn't been quite as protracted as the experience Miami has endured. But, he did just spend six games chasing Tony Parker around the court. His off shooting in the middle of that series (a combined 7-of-25 in games three and four) may not have anything to do with fatigue, but some rest for those legs can't hurt.

The Heat's Bench

Thanks to Miami's star power, this seems like a pretty young team at first glance.

Don't be fooled, though. There are some old guys on this team—maybe not "early bird special" regulars, but guys who will still appreciate the intermittent rest just a little bit more. Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller are both 32, and Shane Battier is 33.

With their last two series lasting a combined 13 games, those guys have logged a lot of miles lately. Bosh's absence thrust Haslem and Battier into some overtime duty, so they'll be especially appreciative of the opportunity to freshen up a bit.

Derek Fisher

Even though Fisher doesn't log as many minutes as a lot of the guys you'll see in this series, he's still playing an important role for the Thunder. He's averaged over 21 minutes a game with OKC, and his postseason experience will be valuable in the finals. At 37 years old, though, he'll need every bit of rest he can get to remain in top form.