NBA Finals 2012: Halftime Adjustments Reverse Fortunes for OKC Thunder

At first glance, it might seem like the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't change a thing in the second half of the NBA Finals' Game 1. 

The only difference from one half to the next appeared to be that Russell Westbrook started making shots while Kevin Durant went from "great" to "perfect." 

That's part of the story, to be sure. But there's more to it than that. Head coach Scott Brooks' young club trailed by as much as 13 points in the first half and looked to always be a step behind.

Were it not for Durant's steadying presence, OKC might well have faced an insurmountable deficit. As it was, however, the Thunder weren't stuck in neutral for long.

One of the principal differences in the second half was that Oklahoma City came out of the gate playing far more aggressively. That impacted several facets of the game, but it was especially palpable on the defensive end (h/t San Francisco Chronicle News Services):

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"I thought we showed a lot of toughness in that second half in really battling and fighting for every possession," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "I told the guys there's a difference between guarding the guy or making the guy feel you. I thought in the second half, they were feeling us."

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That grittier approach translated into a 40-point half for the Heat, a far cry from the 54 points Miami scored in the first half.

OKC's sturdier defense had a ripple effect on every other facet of the game.

With its defensive efficiency improving from 104.8 to 99.7 from one half to the next, the Thunder's offensive efficiency correspondingly grew from 108.9 to 112.2.

Miami's missed shots made for a track meet. The Heat turned the ball over just 10 times (with only five remaining a live ball), but the Thunder still racked up 24 fast-break points—the most head coach Erik Spoelstra's team has given up all season outside of a meaningless season finale against the Washington Wizards.

The discovery of a new gear also helped Westbrook find his rhythm. After settling for contested jumpshots initially, OKC's shoot-first point guard started attacking the paint with far greater frequency after intermission.

He was just 2-12 from outside that paint, but 7-10 in the paint. Getting to the free-throw line nine times didn't hurt either.

Outside of the increased pressure, Brooks also tweaked his lineup in the second half, relying heavily on a smaller lineup comprised of Durant, Westbrook, Derek Fisher, Thabo Sefolosha and Nick Collison.

As OKC's de facto big man, Collison contributed eight points and 10 rebounds—five of which were on the offensive end.

Those extra possessions helped keep the second-half momentum firmly in the Thunder's corner, and the Oklahoma City crowd clearly appreciated the effort.

The Heat will be better prepared for the Thunder's many faces as this series winds on, but there's no question OKC's adaptability has been a key factor in its postseason success. It changed an 0-2 hole against the San Antonio Spurs into four-consecutive victories.

This time around, it very well may be responsible for keeping the Heat on their heels—and LeBron James ring-less.