Heat vs. Thunder: What Miami Must Do to Shock OKC in Game 2

The 2012 NBA Finals figures to be a back-and-forth battle, but if the Miami Heat keep playing like this, it may be a short series. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder exploded against the Heat on Tuesday, with Kevin Durant scoring 36 points in the 105-94 victory. Partner-in-crime Russell Westbrook posted 27 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.

The Thunder were the better team in Game 1, but that doesn't mean the Heat can't rally.

Here's a look at what Miami must do to capture Game 2 in Oklahoma City.

Get Dwyane Wade Going Early

Dwyane Wade has been off and on since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, but he generally bounces back after a disappointing performance.

Wade had a disappointing performance in Game 1, going 7-of-19 from the floor. The Heat need to feed him the ball early and get him going. They simply can't beat the Thunder with Wade struggling.

Rebound the Basketball

The Heat were out-rebounded on Tuesday, 43-35.

They allowed Nick Collison to come off the bench and grab 10 boards in 21 minutes of action, including five offensive rebounds.

Beyond LeBron James and Udonis Haslem, no player on the Heat had more than five rebounds. Chris Bosh grabbed just five boards in 33 minutes of action.

The Heat can't allow the Thunder to rack up 10 offensive rebounds in a game. They have to do a better job of boxing out and limiting second-chance points.

Get Back to Playing Fantastic Defense

Obviously, when you are facing Durant and Westbrook, this is easier said than done, but it's important that the Heat play with more intensity on defense. If one of your teammates gets beat, you cover for him.

Keeping Durant and Westbrook on the perimeter is really the best you can do. Both stars have proven they can knock it down from the perimeter, but it's better than letting them terrorize the paint and dishing the ball off to wide-open teammates.

The Heat would do well to keep James on Durant. Sure, James will tire quicker, but at this point you can't allow Durant to go off like he did in Game 1. The Heat need to slow the game down and make it a defensive-minded, half-court game.

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