NBA Finals 2012: The Difference Between the Heat and Thunder in Second Halves

In Game 1 of the 2012 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat stormed out to a seven-point lead at halftime, but succumbed to a second-half surge by the Oklahoma City Thunder and began the final series of the playoffs in an early hole. 

It's seems as though the Thunder have thoroughly dominated their opponents in the latter half of every contest they've played in recently, so let's take a look at what both teams in the Finals are doing during the second halves of their postseason contests. 

Thunder Offense

Oklahoma City's offense has picked it up a notch after halftime throughout the playoffs. Kevin Durant is quickly earning the title of the league's best clutch scorer, and for good reason, as he's lit up the scoreboard during the second half time and time again. 

As opposed to the past, when the leading scorer in the league passively stood by and let Russell Westbrook pop jumper after jumper early in the shot-clock, Durant has demanded the ball more and rightfully asserted himself in the offensive flow. 

Part of the problem for opposing teams has been their failure to slow the ridiculous young athletes once the legs of their defensive players are more tired. If Durant isn't feeling it, OKC can easily turn to Westbrook or James Harden without too much of a drop-off. 

The Thunder have averaged 50.19 points during the first half so far during the playoffs, but they've bumped up the scoring output to 52.50 during the second half. That's good for a 2.31-point increase in scoring from half to half. 

Between the youth, the athleticism and the subtle adjustments that Scott Brooks have been able to make at halftime, the machine that is the OKC offense has been even more machine-like during the post-halftime portion of the game. 

Thunder Defense

As impressive as the 2.31-point scoring bump may be, the simultaneous increase in defensive intensity has been even more impressive.

Last night's game was a perfect example of this as the Thunder began the second half by tangling up in the jersey's of the Miami Heat even more. They contested every shot and no longer settled for allowing any open jumpers to the Heat's role players.

Once more, this is a credit to the youth of the Thunder. When the oldest player in the starting lineup is Thabo Sefolosha, who is still well short of the dreaded 30-year-old milestone, it's far easier to close out on defense.

It's truly been the defense that has helped the Thunder achieve superiority in the second half of the games they'd like to remember. In wins, the scoring differential between halves has dropped to only 0.62 points, meaning that the Thunder have increased their scoring output more in losses.

However, when the Thunder have been victorious in the postseason, they've allowed 4.46 less points in the second half than in the first half. Overall, looking at both wins and losses, the Thunder have allowed 49.88 points in the first half and 47.38 in the second for a differential of 2.50 points per contest. 

The Thunder have outscored their opponents by a sensational 6.46 points on average in the second half when they've won games, and the primary reason for that has been the increased intensity on the less glamorous end of the floor. 

Heat Offense

Because the media tends to focus so much on the fourth-quarter shortcomings of the Heat in losses and the overall greatness of the team in wins, we've formed an incorrect perception of the team. As hard as it may be to escape from the perils of groupthink and accept the numbers, the Heat have actually been a better team on both ends of the court in the second half. 

Erik Spoelstra, as should be expected from a strategic coach, even one criticized for his ineptness with half-court offenses, has made the tweaks and adjustments necessary to help the offense find more of a rhythm after halftime. 

Miami has averaged 46.79 points per first half, but the number has increased to 48.21 points per game in the second half. However, in wins, that second number has sky-rocketed to 52.08 for a differential of 3.83 points. 

One of the primary reasons for this has been the play of Dwyane Wade, who for some inexplicable reason has struggled to get going in the first half before finding his shot (to some extent) in the second. That's just another reason why Wade's ability to show up in Game 2 is so vital to Miami's cause. 

Heat Defense

The Heat's ability to stay mentally involved during close games and tough contests has been the biggest difference-maker for the team. 

When the going gets tough, Miami has tended to slow down and lose the 50-50 balls, get beat back in transition and allow too many easy points. That's one of the reasons why the second-half defensive differential is drastically different between wins and losses. 

Whereas the Heat are using a shutdown defense after halftime to win the second half by 12.58 points in victories, they're being outscored by six points per second half in losses. It almost all boils down to defensive intensity. 

In losses, the Heat are allowing 2.29 points more in the second half than they do in the first half, while they're giving up 6.42 less in wins.

Thanks to the presence of LeBron James, this is a very mental team and things need to go well in the heads of Miami's players for things to go well on the court. 

The second half will continue to be the most important part of each game in the 2012 NBA Finals, so figuring out how to improve all of these numbers will be crucial for each team.