Heat vs. Thunder Game 3: Oklahoma City Needs More Help from Supporting Cast

After falling to the Miami Heat by a score 91-85 in Game 3 of the 2012 finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder needs to use its depth to even the series.

The Thunder thrived this season behind a big three of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. The rest of the players on the team filled important roles and did the little things to put the team over the top.

Unfortunately, only Kevin Durant has been playing to his ability through the first three games of the NBA Finals.

The runner-up to the MVP award has averaged 31 points per game in the finals while shooting 57.4 percent from the floor. His assist and rebound numbers are down, but he is doing everything he can to help his team win.

Westbrook, on the other hand, has not been an efficient point guard of the team. He has taken a team-high 68 shots in the three games, only making 41.2 percent of them. Behind the arc he has only hit 3-of-14.

After 11 assists in the Game 1, he only totaled 11 in the next two losses combined.

The team would be able to make up for their point guard if third-leading scorer James Harden was carrying his weight. Instead, the Sixth Man of the Year only hit two of his 10 shots from the floor in Game 3 for a total of nine points.

Oklahoma City got to this point by utilizing three of the best young scorers in the league. When two of them are not getting it done, it goes without saying, it really hurts the team's chances to win.

The series is nowhere close to being over. One game is easy to make up, but the entire Thunder squad needs to step up their performance.

Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and even Nick Collison need to perform better in the low post. The Heat out-rebounded the Thunder in each of the last two games, and the second-chance points allowed Miami to remain ahead.

Few are counting on an offensive explosion out of Thabo Sefolosha, but he needs to continue being a defensive force and disrupt the Heat's rhythm like he did in Game 1.

The Thunder did not get here by accident. They are a very talented team that has played tremendously throughout the playoffs. However, they need more than just Durant if they want to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy.