Monday, June 18th, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  81 responses

OKC Thunder Down 2-1 to Miami Heat in NBA Finals


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Doubt has begun to creep all around these young OKC Thunder, who let a golden opportunity slip through their hands in Miami last night, and must now climb out of a hole against the surging Heat.

In addition to shaky play late in the second half, and silly fouls throughout the game, the OKC Thunder seemed like they were trying to do too much individually in Game 3.

Per ESPN and Yahoo! Sports:

“We’ve got to understand that over there in the locker room, there’s a team that really wants it,” Kendrick Perkins grumbled. “They’ve got a couple guys over there who want this. … They want it. Nothing’s going to be given to us, we’ve got to go take it. We were just careless and sloppy. … We’ve got to know that we are in the Finals. We’ve got to trust each other. Tonight, we got back to ‘I’ basketball, the individual shooting over two and three people.”

Kevin Durant said: “Two games in a row, man, so I’ve just got to play smarter next game.” [...] After scoring 17 and 16 points in the previous two fourth quarters, Durant didn’t come through in crunch time, finishing 2-for-6 in the final period of Game 3. “I know I have to do a way better job,” Durant said. “We’ve just got to own up to it.”

“Experience is not overrated at all,” Dwyane Wade said. “Tonight that helped us win this ballgame.”

The next two games are in Miami, but this series is far from over. The OKC Thunder have shown resilience throughout this postseason, and they should be able to bounce back.

But will it be enough against these ultra-focused Miami Heat, who seem unflappable when the chips are down?

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  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    Not saying tat Harden would be a better point guard than Westbrook.
    But Westbrook at the two more often would play more to his core strengths. Breaking down defenses. Making the defense collapse on him, Thus, opening up other options.
    Harden is a smart player who rarely does things to hurt his team.
    Harden and Westbrook can be a deadly interchangeable combination at the guard position(s).
    Especially depending on matchup situations.
    In my opinion.

  • Ldub

    Problem with Russ is he is a combo guard. He handles and drives like a pg, but he has the mentality of a 2. This causes issues for the oposition, but can for the team as well. And collison coming off the bench isnt much of a threat against the Heat. My main point for keeping Harden on the bench to start is because he isnt as gifted “defensively” as Thabo. Allow Thabo to (in the words of R Kelly LOL) bump n grind on Wade and James. Get them fatigued slightly so Harden can be more effective. He brings energy off the bench. Collison wont be nearly as effective as Harden. Plus starting Harden takes away from a years worth of chemistry. Granted they can all play together, but now isnt the time to try new things and HOPE for the best. Maybe do that next season when its back to the 82 games. But not in the finals. You could always bring Thabo in (off the bench, should brooks decide to do this)..but youre giving up alot of scoring. JH off the bench mainly works because that is when KD can get a break. You can have all 3 of the guys off the court at once or possibly in foul trouble.

  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    LA Huey:
    I agree. But the season is winding down. And for a few spot minutes, he may be up to task. Especially shooting the ball. And even on the blocks.
    But again, only for spot minutes. Just make sure someone is out there with him to get him the ball in the right spots.
    His shooting percentages are too high to not utilize him more offensively.
    Another player who rarely hurts his team.

  • LA Huey

    A starting 5 of Bosh, LeBron, Battier, Wade, Chalmers is the best line up for the Heat. However, they almost certainly go back to their regular season line up for next season right? It’s too taxing for LeBron and Bosh at those spots. Hell, I’d like to see Battier at SG and Wade accept a Manu-type role off the bench (but that’s unlikely)

  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    Wade should play more point guard, too…
    In my opinion.
    Had good assist numbers last session.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    T-Money
    We agree that it’s incredibly difficult to do everything LeBron does. But, if he doesn’t do it, he’s making things even more difficult in the long run. I think he has to concentrate on catching the ball low. He’s done it before. Not while guarding someone like Durant, but he’s done it. If he’s not going to shoot jumpers and his jumper isn’t really dropping then he needs to concentrate on catching close to avoid expending so much energy driving. It’s on him and his coach to figure out how to catch it low. I honestly think dude is still just more comfortable catching it farther out.

  • LA Huey

    Phil, who’s he going to take on the block? Bosh? Haslem? Bron? Unless Battier is tasked to him, there’s isn’t a forward on the Heat he’ll get anything against.

  • tpathi1

    AllenP, the triangle is built for the Heat! Especially when Lebron, Bosh and Wade get older..the best places for all of them to get scoring done is thru the post..they all are ‘big’ at their positions and most if not all matchups will favor them three guys throughout their careers. The problem is tho, they don’t kno how to space the floor correctly, i have seen supernintendo chalmers commit numerous turnovers just trying to get the ball to wade or bron in the post, and its not only him, its everyone on the team. Once Lebron perfects a post game, its over for the league, he will officially be unguardable. What if KD gets a post game..he will be too ridiculous…maybe a force like none we have ever seen, but he is too skinny/weak to take that kind of beating on a nightly basis.

  • jose

    @Brion: Yes, they also shouldn’t forget the last time they were up 2-1 in the finals… GO HEAT!!!

  • LA Huey

    Wario Chalmers has a requisite number of mistakes he has to make every game. It’s in his contract with the devil. That’s why he can knock down big-time threes and make lay-ups amongst/around the trees like he’s Damon Stoudamire.

  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    LA Huey:
    He doesn’t neccessarily have to be a primary scorer. I just think that it would behoove the Thunder if he could get more touches. Mainly because, he doesn’t hurt them, and his percentages are high.

  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    I can definitely be wrong, though…

  • Ldub

    Harden is smart granted…but he isnt a PG either. He holds the ball more than Russ at times. And that is because his mindset is to score. That is what the 6th man needs to do. Ive said it before and ill say it again. The finals are different from reg and post season games. Miami was there last season and has the experience. OKC, and scott brooks arent mentally ready (as far as i can see). They arent making the right reads and adjustments. This isnt just as simple as insterted one player in the rotation for another. Its a total team effort and the last 2 games havent shown that OKC is there right now. Yes they can stay in a game, and Im not expecting a blowout in any game, but the down the stretch plays are key. The mental aspect is all that is missing.

  • Ldub

    Also some are saying LBJ should hit the block…I disagree. Its very tiring to play down low, and bump and bang. You dont want you best player to get too tired thru the course of a game from low post physical abuse. He is already in there grabbing offensive boards. And on the defensive end, he is guarding durant very physically. Every now and then when there is a switch like russ or fisher on him, i would agree. But i wouldnt take harden or thabo in the post. Not saying they would pose a huge threat, but they arent completely undersized like a guard and they can bump back. Keep the movement, keep the cuts, keep the floor spread. If you can get a mismatch, then by all means take advantage. But dont force the post if youve been successful thus far with out it.

  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    Huey:
    No doubt.
    Just trying to find some ways to alleviate some pressure off of Westbrook, and let him indulge in his scoring instincts without him hurting the cause as often.
    But I feel you.

  • LA Huey

    Yeah, I know. I really don’t see any actual adjustments the Thunder can make that wouldn’t require a player to put in an offseason’s worth of work. Collison’s a decent passer, so maybe they could have him make some passes at the high post with some off-ball action for Durant/Westbrook. Aside from that, they just have to execute better better than Miami.

  • T-Money

    allen, he’s doing it now! that’s my point. didn’t you see him yesterday roaming the baseline and cutting across the middle numerous times? didn’t you see him catch it on the block against thabo/kd/harden? it’s unrealistic to expect a player of his caliber who always has the ball in his hands and is expected to make decisions in PnR situations to not shoot any jumpers ever (it seems like that’s what you want). his jumper is now a tool, he’s just in a slump right now from the outside. if miami can land a steve nash in the off season then yeah, it’ll be realistic to expect him to catch it deep on every possession. but he has other responsibilities on this team, one being to organize the offense late in games. he has to do that from up top.

  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    We’ll see what happens.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    yesterday I was watching the game and on OKC number thirteen had a massive beard. Did anybody else see that? Anyway, it turned me on but since I live in my parents basement without a woman I just played with myself for an hour.

  • LA Huey

    T-Money has a really good point. I just can’t count on anyone else on the Heat aside from Bosh and Bron taking it to another level offensively at this point. I can’t see anything else they can do on defense, it’s solid at this point.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Good point T-Money. He does seem to be the only person on the team who can consistently bring the ball up the court and organize the team.

  • dywm

    Miami’s ball movement and passing are crazy. Crazy.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Anything is Possible. Heat will sweep Thunder.

  • Otis

    @dfrance21: “I don’t even think Westbrooks shot attempts are the problem, its just when he chooses to shoot them. A lot of times he thinks “Oh KD scored 2 in a row, let me score 2 in a row” instead of “Oh KD scored two in a row, let me get him the ball again.”
    .
    EXACTLY. This is exactly the thing.

  • http://www.hoopsworld.com/ IamYOU

    As a Heat fan I wouldnt rejoice yet. But I’m really glad to see the Heat up by one. Heat fans let’s be calm like Bron…

  • NYballr

    I still like OKC in 7 games. They just need to steal one in Miami, and get it back to OKC.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Has anyone else realised that for 2 teams that we can now call NBA FINALS CALIBRE… neither teams have much at that centre position…? It’s basically Kendrick Perkins….. and thats it. NONE of the guys the Heat brought in to anchor the middle are out there. I honestly think that Erik Spo’ has forgotten that Joel Anthony is down the end of the bench. Honestly. And Juwan Howard….. he DESERVES court time. How can he NOT push Ibaka around down there….?????

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    At that centre position it’s like Luc Longley (Bulls) versus Earvin Johnson (Sonics) (no not that one… ) all over again….

  • hegotsgame

    thunder got this. C’mon y’all didn’t we already question them before?

  • AQWORD

    ^^^^ Lol ^^^ yes yall better chill , youre scaring some peeps on here.

  • hegotsgame

    ^^^You should look up the work ‘manhandle’ again. It doesn’t apply to the Heat in this series…

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