NBA Finals 2012: Heat Must Win Game 2 to Keep Title Hopes Alive

The Miami Heat will not be able to bounce back from an 0-2 deficit in the NBA Finals. They have too much working against them to accomplish that feat. 

Sure, coming back from 0-2 in a best-of-seven is nowhere near unprecedented, and the game isn't technically a must-win, but the reality is that it is already do-or-die time for the Heat. 

Since 1985, the NBA Finals has worked off the 2-3-2 traveling system. This is horrible system; it is far too advantageous to the team with the home-court advantage. 

The central problem of this format is that it is nearly impossible for the team with the three home games in the middle of the series to win all three games. 

The visiting team is not disrupted by travel concerns. They are allowed to get comfortable in the visiting city and the arena. Not too mention, the team is in the NBA Finals for a reason, and winning three in a row against a team of that quality is always a tough task. 

With that in mind, it is not all that surprising that the home team has won all three of those middle games only twice since the NBA made the switch to this format. 

This trip down memory lane was my long winded way of saying that the Heat have to win Game 2. They aren't going to be able to beat this Thunder team three straight in Miami, and they definitely do not want to head back to Oklahoma City for Games 6 and 7 having to win both to take the series. 

The Thunder are now a perfect 9-0 at home in the playoffs. Miami will not be able to win two in a row in OKC to finish off this series. 

The writing is on the wall: If the Heat want to win this series, they have to win Game 2.