Heat vs. Thunder Game 1: Heat Players Who Must Help LeBron James to Avoid Sweep

The Heat could afford to let LeBron James do everything versus the Magic, Pacers and Celtics. 

Now, against the most complete team in the league, it isn't going to fly anymore, unless the Heat want to be heading home from the Finals empty-handed for the second straight year. 

For the third consecutive game dating back to the Heat's Eastern Conference finals series win over the Celtics, LeBron has had to take over the game and will the team to victory while the rest of the Heat roster allowed him to shoulder the offensive, and most of the defensive, load. Furthermore, the bench continued to be at its worst, contributing 12 points and five rebounds in Tuesday's 105-94 loss.

Here are the players who need to show up big time to help LeBron overcome the Thunder.

Chris Bosh 

Bosh is going to be more important in this series than he's been at any point until now because the Thunder are so strong up front, particularly with Kendrick Perkins in the middle. Perkins wasn't even incredibly impactful on Tuesday, but he's one of the main reasons why this team was able to hold off the Lakers' formidable frontcourt in the second round.

Perk, coupled with Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, is part of a unit that is by far the best the Heat have faced this postseason. Just like Bosh played a factor in neutralizing Kevin Garnett in Games 6 and 7 of the previous series, he needs to do the same thing here.

The Thunder may be young, but this isn't Perk's first time in the Finals; he has more experience here than the Heat do. This is his third time at the Finals in the last five years after reaching the peak with the Celtics in 2008 and in 2010. 

Udonis Haslem

With Bosh coming off the bench, that increases the necessity for Haslem to start playing like a professional. That means no drama, all action and especially no fouling out when you're playing one of the best front units in the league, particularly when your bench has been so short and ineffective over the last few games.

Haslem registered four points, 11 rebounds and a turnover in 29 minutes on Tuesday—still better than Bosh's performance, but the Heat are going to need more offensive output from their big guys not named LeBron in order to contend with the three stars in OKC's unit, all of whom shot 50 percent or better from the floor in Game 1.

Shane Battier

Battier was one of the unsung difference-makers in the Heat's Eastern Conference finals win over the Celtics, particularly in the final two games of the series. In Games 5, 6 and 7, Battier shot no worse than 44 percent from beyond the arc, and he'll need to bring that outside scoring touch to this series to help someone other than LeBron put the ball in the hoop.

Defensively, Battier was a big factor in keeping Brandon Bass and Paul Pierce at bay in the last series. He'll need to do the same thing with Durant and Ibaka on the either side this time.

The Heat aren't a particularly big team, and the Thunder are incredibly tough up front. As a result, Miami's frontcourt can't afford to make any mistakes in this series and needs to come out a lot tougher in Game 2. All of the frontcourt—not just LeBron.