NBA Finals 2013: Heat Role Players That Must Step Up to Avoid Game 2 Disaster

The 2013 NBA Finals will not be won by a heroic individual effort by LeBron James.

He’s going to need help if the Miami Heat hope to rebound from their discouraging Game 1 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

He leaned on them in Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers, as pointed by South Florida Sun-Sentinel Heat beat writer Ira Winderman:

James' help doesn’t just have to come from co-stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, either. The team’s supporting cast need to elevate their game if they plan on securing a Game 2 win to keep their back-to-back title chances alive.

Below we’ll take a look at some of the Heat role players who must step up their game not just in Game 2, but throughout the rest of the series.

Mario Chalmers

A point guard on the floor with the likes of James and Wade won’t have to perform the typical duties of a traditional floor general. Both of those two superstars are excellent with the ball in their hands—both at creating shots for themselves and their teammates.

That leaves Chalmers, a usually sound and potentially explosive three-point shooter, with plenty of opportunities to make opposing teams sorry for leaving him open.

He didn’t do that in the series opener in Miami. Chalmers shot 33 percent from beyond the three-point line, making two of his six attempts. However, he missed all seven of his other attempts from the field.

When on the floor he needs to be much more efficient, especially as a guy who spends as much time out there as he does.

Chalmers also hasn't shown up defensively to this point. If he can't handle guarding Tony Parker and continues to struggle offensively, the Heat will need to find another role player to fill his shoes.

Udonis Haslem

No one will confuse Udonis Haslem with a superstar. He is not being tasked with carrying the Heat to a championship. However, he has been a vital presence in the paint for the Heat off the bench.

In the 2013 playoffs, Haslem has improved his field-goal percentage from 46 percent in last year's postseason to 62 percent, and he is also scoring 1.3 points more per game compared to a year ago. He has quietly improved on that front while playing five less minutes per contest in these playoffs.

His 17 minutes in Game 1, which represent his average time on the court this postseason, ended with four rebounds and two points on just one field-goal attempt.

The Heat need to utilize him better off the pick-and-roll to open him up for his patented mid-range jumper that has been so solid.

Shane Battier

Shane Battier was a key component for the Heat during their title run in 2012. In the finals last year he averaged 37 minutes, scored 11.6 points and pulled down 3.2 rebounds per game. He also connected on 58 percent of his three-pointers and committed just one turnover during that five-game series.

So where was he in Game 1 of the 2013 finals? The trusty veteran played in just six minutes and missed all three of his attempts from the field—all three-pointers.

Having an experienced player like Battier on the floor should be a necessity for Erik Spoelstra as he prepares for the rest of the series. Not only does he provide excellent range and clutch shooting, but he is also a defensive hound who makes opponents work for every inch.

Mike Miller got most of Battier’s minutes in the series opener, but it should be the former Duke standout whose number is called from here on out.

If he gets back into the fold, he needs to step in and make an immediate impact after disappearing in Game 1.