Game 1 of the NBA finals proved what most experts believed was correct. The Thunder are a much deeper team than Heat, and they are pretty darn tough to beat at home. This series was supposed to be a dogfight but after game one it seems more like an Alaskan Malamute taking on a Bishon.
The Thunder probably played one of thier worst halfs of basketball on Tuesday night and still somehow stayed around and only were down 7 at the half. The Heat were on fire from 3 getting points from Battier and Chalmers. That usually turns out to be blowout city when they get help from anyone outside of LeWade. Credit Scott Brooks making the proper adjustments at halftime and having complete control over his superstars. There was a point in the 3rd quarter where they showed cut ins of Brooks talking to both Westbrook and Durant on sepereate occasions coaching them up. No such thing has or will ever happen with the Heat and their coach and superstars. Truth be told Scott Brooks took on the best coach he will face, unless Phil Jackson comes back next year, and out coached him last round.
Scott Brooks made sure his superstars kept attacking. They listened and in the second half outscored the entire Heat Team 41-40. The switch to have Sepholosha guard Lebron instead of KD proved to be the best move of the night. Lebron still ended up with 30, but he worked extremely hard for it. every jumper he took was contested, and got most of his points driving for layups/dunks and getting to the line. He got blocked a few times, stripped, and was harrassed the entire second half. I admire Durant for coming out and wanting to guard Lebron, you want that from your superstar, but championship teams are built by everyone having a job and trusting your teammates to do their job. With Sepholosha on Lebron, KD was able to concentrate more on the offensive end. A luxury that the Heat do not have. Battier a good defender in his own right simply is too small to check KD.
Changes have to be made for Heat to stand a chance at game 2. First off DWade has to play better on both ends. I think first it starts off with letting Chalmers check Westbrook. Chalmers no doubt is the lesser defender, but DWade is an excellent off ball defender and will have more energy on the offensive end where the Heat need more than 17 from him for a win. He must be on attack mode. The fade-aways are pretty and he hits a good number of them, but "fall down 7, stand up 8" DWade needs to show up. Attack the basket, get to the line and get Ibaka and/or Sepholosha in foul trouble. Dwade needs to be the leading scorer for the heat. 30-35 point game would be ideal.
Bosh needs to stop taking threes. He has gotten better, but three's by nature are a low percentage shot. When he misses that makes for long rebonds and then Thunder are racing the other way. He needs to make Ibaka work on the block get him in foul trouble early and out of the game. Ibaka is the key to what the Thunder like to do defensively. He makes LeWade adjust their shots in the paint. It is clear that the Heat cannot survive with their 3rd scoring option being subpar as Thunder can. He has to have a double double today. 20 and 12 would be ideal.
Lebron must take it upon himself to check KD the whole game. He is the only person on the Heat roster that can make KD work for his points. He had 36 points on only 18 shots. that kind of effiencincy will have the Heat fishing in four. Easier said than done, but if Lebron wants a title he is going to have to take it. Because that is exactly what KD did Game 1. Lebron needs a 25 12 8 game.
The Thunder have the blueprint for how to beat the Heat. Attack the middle of the defense. Make Lebron beat you and contain everyone else. Lebron has the talent to beat a team single-handedly but better to let him go for 30 or 40 and get nothing from Dwade or Bosh.
If Heat can do these things they stand a chance at game 2, But I just think The Thunder are the superior and deeper team. Plus they don't lose at home. My prediction Thunder win by 6. 103-97
