Heat vs. Thunder: Changes Oklahoma City Must Make to Avoid Another Slow Start

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been dominated in the first quarter of the first two games against the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals.

They were able to stage a successful comeback in Game 1, but fell short in Game 2.

The Thunder will now start a three-game stint in Miami, and erasing early deficits will be significantly more difficult on the road.

Here are the three changes that the Thunder must make in order to avoid a poor start in Game 3.

Go Through Kevin Durant

While this seams painfully obvious, the team must let its superstar set the tone early. This means limited opportunities for Russell Westbrook, no mid-range jumpers from Serge Ibaka and absolutely no three-point attempts from Thabo Sefolosha.

Westbrook was 1-for-6 in the first quarter of the most recent game and he went 1-4 in the opening period of Game 1. He has struggled to score early in both games, and the team will be better off if he facilitates for Durant. 

Deferring to the best player on the team is a necessary strategy on the road. The Thunder are not going to win a game in Miami without Durant having an excellent offensive night.

Once Durant beings to score and get in rhythm, space will open up for the rest of his teammates and they will become more confident. Westbrook will see more open looks, Ibaka will be left wide open for jump shots, and even the occasional shot from Sefolosha can be tolerated. 

Sit Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins has been a vital part of the team’s success this season, but Miami provides a terrible match-up for the center.

Perkins is extremely limited offensively, and his best attribute is his one-on-one post defense. However, Miami rarely looks to post up its big men, and Perkins has not been effective.

The only valuable contribution Perkins can make against a small Miami lineup is through screens. However, he rarely sees the ball and still has five turnovers in two games, which has negated any positive impact he has been able to make off the ball. 

Even if Scottie Brooks decides to keep Perkins as a starter, he should quickly switch to a smaller lineup in order to avoid another early run by the Heat.

Stay Tight on Shane Battier

If LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all have excellent nights, the Thunder can still beat the Heat. If the Big Three play well and Shane Battier also scores in double figures, OKC will lose.

Battier has five made three-pointers in the first quarter during the first two games. He has been an instrumental part to the Heat’s early runs.

The 33-year-old finished with 17 points in both games. The Thunder cannot let him equal that output for the rest of the series if they hope to win a championship.

They must do a better job of rotating to the outside shooters, especially Battier. If they can keep him from knocking down three-point shots, they may not have to stage a dramatic comeback in Game 3.