Heat vs. Thunder Game 3: Russell Westbrook & Struggling Players Who Must Improve

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is one of the struggling players in the 2012 NBA Finals who must improve for his team to win the championship.

Whether you are a superstar or an important role player, you can not go into a slump during the NBA Finals. This is where legends are made and players make a name for themselves, which helps them later in their career when they're looking for a lucrative contract.

Let's look at three stars who must start playing better in the Finals.

Mario Chalmers

Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers is one of those players who can be an X-factor for his team and provide the offense they need when LeBron James and/or Dwyane Wade are struggling.

Chalmers' ability to attack the basket and finish at the rim is important to the Heat offense, and so is his ability to knock down three-point shots when James and Wade drive to the basket and kick it out to him on the perimeter.

Chalmers shot just 1-7 in Game 2, and scored just three points with three turnovers. He was also 1-3 from the three-point line in Thursday's game.

If Chalmers continues to play 37.5 minutes per game like he has thus far in the Finals, he has to be more effective offensively and knock down his open shots, while at the same time being aggressive going to the basket.

James Harden

The Thunder have to get more offense out of James Harden because they need someone who can provide scoring off the bench when Westbrook or Kevin Durant are struggling.

Harden had just five points in Game 1, and improved a bit in Game 2 with 21 points. Even though he scored 21 points on Thursday, 17 of those came in the first half. OKC needs Harden to be a reliable player in the second half, and five points isn't good enough.

He also can't be in foul trouble in the Finals because he's too important to the Thunder at both ends of the floor to be riding the bench for extended periods of time—he had three personal fouls in Game 1 and four in Game 2.

Harden's play will decide the outcome of this series because when he plays well at both ends of the floor by scoring at a high rate and defending well one-on-one, the Thunder cannot be beaten. If he struggles however, the Heat's chances of winning increase dramatically.

Russell Westbrook

The Thunder will go as far as Russell Westbrook will take them, and for OKC fans, that's a scary thought.

When Westbrook takes high percentage shots, attacks the basket, and brings great energy to the defensive end of the floor, the Thunder are incredibly difficult to beat.

But when Westbrook goes into "Hero Mode" and tries to win the game by himself, or take over the game when he shouldn't, OKC is in serious trouble. For the series, Westbrook is shooting 20-50 from the field. He's also 3-10 from the three-point line.

He took way too many poor shots in Game 2 and did not do enough to get his teammates involved. As a point guard, he can't forget about being a playmaker.

In fact, Westbrook was so bad in Game 2, that former NBA star and current ESPN analyst Magic Johnson had some really strong thoughts on the performance.

"

Magic Johnson just bashed Russell Westbrook. "That was the worst PG play I've ever seen in a championship game." ... sulia.com/c/nba-finals-m…

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 15, 2012"

If Westbrook isn't more efficient at the offensive end in Game 3, the Thunder will find themselves down 2-1 in the series going into Game 4.

Follow @NicholasGoss35