NBA Finals 2012: What Kevin Durant Must Do to Counter Heat's Aggressive Defense

The Miami Heat are face guarding Kevin Durant around every corner. In Game 4, he struggled to deal with it in the second half and only attempted nine field goals.

Durant must shake the Heat's aggressive, physical tactics in Game 5. If he doesn't attempt more than nine shots in the second half, a Miami victory is guaranteed.

The Thunder star's strength isn't in his physical strength or blinding speed. LeBron James, when guarding him, severely overmatches Durant because of his freakish combination of size and speed.

Let's see what Durant can do to give himself a little more room to breath in Game 5.

Screens, Screens and More Screens

This has more to do with Kendrick Perkins than it does Durant. If Durant can't get himself open, he is going to need some help.

In this series (and most other games), setting quality screens is the only reason Perkins needs to be on the floor. Miami plays a smaller lineup, and Scott Brooks could get away with playing Serge Ibaka at center, sitting Perkins and playing with a perimeter-oriented lineup.

But if you are going to play Perkins, why not use his strengths to your advantage?

Durant's lack of physical strength hinders him from muscling his way to freedom. Perkins' wide frame can help that process along.

It is a two-way street.

Perkins has to set the picks. Durant has to run his man off those screens, and he must set them up different ways each time. This will keep Miami defenders on their toes, and keep the element of surprise in Durant's corner.

This process is going to wear Durant out, but he should be running off multiple screens on every play.

Isolation

This is the other option, but I hesitate with it. Ball-handling is not Durant's strongest suit, but bringing the ball up the floor may not be a bad idea in certain situations.

The most important thing for Oklahoma City is for Durant to get touches. If that requires him to bring the ball up the floor, then so be it.

Running isolation plays for Durant will work, but it's only a matter of time before Miami adjusts. They will bring a help defender before too long and force Durant to dish the ball.

This will set up open perimeter looks for Russell Westbrook and James Harden. If they start making those, Miami will be forced to defend a two-pronged attack.

Oklahoma City needs to think outside the box, and Durant must get creative. Bringing the ball up isn't in his comfort zone, but coming back from a two-game deficit is going to require something different.

In the end, it doesn't matter how Durant winds up with the ball. It only matters that he gets it.