GAME 2: Heat 100, Thunder 96

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Heat built a 17-point lead in the first quarter and then held on late to even the best-of-7 NBA Finals at one game apiece. LeBron James was a force both offensively and defensively, Dwyane Wade bounced back after struggling in Game 1, Chris Bosh returned to the starting lineup with a dominant effort and Shane Battier once again sparkled.

IT WAS OVER WHEN ...
LeBron James made two free throws with 7.1 seconds left to give the Heat a four-point lead.

A RARE VICTORY
The Heat's victory at Chesapeake Energy Arena was the first for an opponent of the Thunder in the playoffs. Oklahoma City was 9-0 at home in the postseason entering Thursday night.

FAST START
The Heat outscored the Thunder 27-15 in the first quarter and started the game with an 18-2 run. It was the only quarter the Heat outscored the Thunder but it was enough. James and Wade attacked the basket from the opening tip and Battier made a pair of three-pointers.

MR. JUNE
Shane Battier finished with 17 points and was 5 of 7 from three-point range. In the first two games of the Finals, Battier scored 34 points and was 9 of 13 from three-point range.

THE RETURN
Bosh returned to the starting lineup for the first time since straining an abdominal muscle in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. He had 16 points and 15 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. Before the game, I asked Bosh if he was ready to play 40 minutes. Guess so. He played 40 minutes and 23 seconds. His contribution was the biggest difference between Games 1 and 2.

"He did a good job of rebounding," said Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. "I think he helped them out, tipping balls, getting extra possessions, just doing his job."

PERFECTION
LeBron James was 12 of 12 from the free-throw line.

THE DEBUT
Congrats to rookie Norris Cole, who made his Finals debut. He played more than 13 minutes and was 1 of 3 from the field for two points.

Comments

[Dashi]

Great Game. Spo did a good job. Now some Consistency and let's win Out. I had Heat in 5 when we started this series.

Now let's go win this title so I can at least start respecting the Man.

[energy_bust]

Heat should really be up 2 - 0.

Spo lost first game.

Spo won second game.

How? Well Lebron has been consistent. DWade didn't add much more than he's been adding. But Spo went deeper in his bench, called timeouts early, though I still would have liked to see him call a timeout quicker in the 4th when the lead started dwindling to single digits.

I can now say Miami is developing players. Chalmers has gotten better this year but still makes some bone headed plays. Bosh kept having to scream at him. I would have liked to see Norris Cole developed more this year. James Jones' game has been growing. I thought it was a one time thing, but he's developing a dribble drive. Practice or self development is really starting to pay off for these guys.

Let's go Spo!
Let's go Heat!

[g007]

Overall: great energy!

Lebron was more aggressive in the paint and those cluth FT's: BIG! Wade was alive and Bosh's 15 rebounds was exactly what we needed. No rebounding, no ring.

[Bosch Fan]

Spoelstra's coaching is poor down the stretch. Where was the pick & roll against Durant to get the 6th foul? How do you let their star player go 10 minutes without pressuring him to foul out? Where was the full court defense against OKC down the stretch? Miami should be pressuring OKC's guards whenever Westbrook is out.

[rswgoforit]

I'll take the win. But we could have easily lost Game 2 as well. We tend to grip too much in the second half. The ball movement was better than Game 1 but it can still get better. The same is true with the focus on defense. Wade, Bosh, and Battier stepped up in crucial situations. My words of encouragement for the home stand is for 15 players to be aggressive, win the battle in the paint, and stay focused for all 48 minutes.

[Heatup]

Said it before, Heat has to hold the thunder under 100 pnts to have a good shot at winning these games.

Its all about defense...Lets bring it home now.

[taheati]

Sunday's sermon: NOT over. NOT even started (at 1-1). NOT anywhere near satisfied but potentially UNSTOPPABLE *if* the Heat continue to BUILD on last nite's win.

Not Miami's sharpest shooting but surely or at least arguably its sharpest-executed game so far (in the playoffs).

Yet --- or nyet -- the Heat STILL haven't peaked, STILL have trouble closing, STILL haven't reached max compression on all cylinders which means TROUBLE for the Thunder IF the Heat bring even MORE focus, energy and sheer relentlessness the rest of the series.

The Thunder could NOT stop the Heat when it mattered, not when Bosh could not be denied, when Bron would not be stopped, when Wade found his wheels, when Shane used his stroke, when Rio bulled & pulled, when NoNo harassed & harangued, when UD brought the pain, when Jones applied his savvy, when offball cutters moved in concert for easier drive & kicks, when Heat defenders switched and trapped to bottle Westbrook for most of the nite, when KD lacked a postup game, Miami took away his spots & the Thunder could barely run because the Heat can still do-play-execute even better. Better than Thursday. Better than haters, critics, Mike Breen*** & assorted ESPN know-nothings could EVER imagine. Imagine *THAT* OKC.

*** Would pay good money for a chance to stomp this KD suckup. Case in point: the goaltend call for Bosh where KD *allegedly* clipped Bosh's shot before Ibaka's block when, in fact, KD got ALL HAND (which changed the trajectory) & should've been whistled for a foul/and+1.

[greg gembe]

Hey Joe (great Hendrix cut)

Heard you reppin' the Herald in the post game interview with LBJ. You think next game you could ask some questions from your bloggers?

LBJ IS CLUTCH!! Big Game moment, Big Time Finisher!!!!That bank shot was HUGE!! The foul shots in the last seconds was HUGE as well!! What you mumbling about now Skip Bayless?

Question to Wade: How did you get your good looks today?

Wade: Coach made some adjustments. (Oh, really)

That play that they ran, COMING OUT OF THE TIMEOUT, at the end of the game, that resulted in a Wade dime to CB was beautiful. (that was ZO's idea, probably)

Bosch fan: Did you not see the Heat's Battier (guarded by Durant) screen for LBJ at the top of the key to try to get the defense to switch, and then when it didn't execute, Battier circled back around and screened LBJ's man a second time to get Durant to guard LBJ??? I believe it was the time Bron drove, drew contact, and Durant and Ibaka blocked his shot. Watch the game a bit closer, the Heat were trying to draw #6 on Durant, but being a huge star, playing at home, in the championships, the officials weren't going to run him on a tic-tac foul.

Batt - jumper is inconsistant? Please.

Chalmers - play with emotion, but under control

Bosh - welcome back

UD - keep banging, but try to limit the unneccessary fouls. Love ya, dude!

SPO - way to OUTCOACH Scottie Brooks!!!! I'm sure the OKC fans are clamoring for Mo Cheeks to take your job after this loss at home.

ZO - great in game adjustments. Great plays coming out of timeouts. great pregame speech.

Durant - dude, cool down. Yo $hit is blazin' right now!

Westbrook - he can shoot you in a game, and he can shoot OUT of the game as well.

ESPN - ignore the Heat, specifically LBJ, in your Top 10. We don't want your love, even when we do win the Larry O'Brien trophy.

[Dashi]

Consistency. A full 48 minute Effort for Game 3.

He was not outcoached. We won the game, Now lets win the Next 3 at Home. "Out-Coach" would've been if We Won by 20+. That game Would've went another Quarter?

We started Great, I don't know About Giving Zo credit for that. I Think the Heat Contingency Only Showed up For Game 1. They were So Disappointed after the game they took the Jet Back that Night.

Spo did a good Job, Now Do it Consistently.

Shane Just started making his Shot This Series And Ur already Proclaiming him the Second Coming Of Larry Bird. What About the Other 70+ Games he played and He Stunk Up the Joint. Shane was Having the Worst PostSeason in History Shooting For 3 until the Finals. He was Shooting Worst Than Bibby did last year.

Consistency That's All I ask For

[greg gembe]

Dashi

Thanks Dude. I just got back to the office from the gym, helping out with a basketball camp, got a ton of work to do, and I read your post and started rolling. Thanks again for your consistency.

Heat win - spo is just OK (coaches be damned, they don't matter)

Heat lose a close game - Fire SPO, Hire X (coaches make all the difference)

Shane has a $hitty 3pt % during the regular season, but is lights out during the championship run and you whine about consistancy.

LBJ is the MVP of the regular season, but until he hits that 3/4 court shot as the buzzer sounds to win Game 7, he isn't clutch or consistant.

SPO on that short list of coaches who have been in back to back championship series, and that isn't consistancy?

Anybody else on this blog give a rat's behind what Battier shot from beyond the arc during the regular season now that he is manning up in the playoffs?

Do you write for George Lopez, Chris Rock, or Larry the Cable Guy - cause yo stuff is funny, I don't care who you are.

[greg gembe]

Westbrook and Durant shot 5-for-19 in the first half.

C'mon Heat, hold them to 26% shooting the rest of the series. CONSISTENCY!!!

[Dashi]

Consistency Starts With Spelling The Word Correct Consistently.

First off Don't Insult LBJ. I'ma LBJ Fan first, Heat Fan Second. That's where all this Criticism of the Amateur comes from, Cause If we Would've Lost against The Pacers U clowns would've blamed Lebron for it. Notice, How I've never been Critical of Him and point out the reason he fades in the 4th Quarter is Because Spo doesn't give him a minute or 2 during a game to catch his breath. I didn't Really Like Riley growing Up, But I've Learned to Respect Him. I've Felt He under-Achieved With Zo and Timmy. They Should've Reached 1 finals.

Shane didn't start Shooting Til Game 1 of the Finals. Not the Whole Run. He was shooting 27% from 3 for the playoff's going into the Finals. He was OK during the Regular Season something like 37%.

Clown I gave Spo Respect for a Good Job, Now DO it 3 More Times. Consistency. If he Did a Great Job We Would've Won by 20+. Plus, We Would be Up 2-0

Funny Greg, Now I Write For Great Comedians. I remember just a few Weeks ago I was Stealing Notes at Ruby Tuesday's from My Friends.

[greg gembe]

yOu arE The gIft thAt keEps On givIng, SorT of LikE thE FruiT oF thE MonTh Club. ThAnKs CouSiN EdDie.

[Heatup]

Wow Dashi, way to outdo yourself and way to do it CONSISTENTLY. You're so entrenched in this spo hate hole that its making you seem like a clown.

[black the trucker]

Great win, now game 3... That game was the blueprint to how we can if not beat these guys but at least take control of this series.... tbc....007....

[greg gembe]

I can't speak for everyone else's experience, but what I've always thought is that a 20 point win/lose was due mostly to talent. It's the close, 2-3 possession games that the sideline coaching plays the biggest role and effects the outcome. Just another difference between the douche and the rest of us.

Now if you are in a collegiate or professional league, the coaches are responsible for practices and attitudes, personnel, etc... If you are coaching players for one or two years in a prep/youth environment, and only have the talent that is available in a certain grade or age, that is a different bird altogether. some years you are a good coach (you've got talented players) and other years you can run the same sets/practices/drills and you are labeled a bad coach (lack of player talent)

Game time adjustments and teaching in practices are two different things. You can excel in one and not the other.

Could you spell chekc this four me, douchi?

[Dashi]

Again, I've never Used the Word Hate Towards Spo. That's U guys and Ur Assumptions. Check any Post and Show me Where I've said I hate the Amateur. I've Always said He's a nice Guy. Exceptional Human Being, But that has nothing to do with his Coaching Ability or Lack Thereof.

Fire SPO and HATE SPO are 2 different thing. People fire people all the Time it Doesn't mean U hate them. At least thats what Smart People(Rich & Successful) Do. Oh, there I go again Sounding Autistic and Talking out my ASz.

One More Time, Do I start this "BS".

Check From the Beginning, Any of them.

I make my post with Dashi's opinion in Mind, not with Hate for the Next Man or Anybody Else's Feelings.

I'm To Full Of Myself To care About Ur Opinion and Ur Personal Feelings Toward Greatness. I Love myself More than the English Language or anything in the Whole Universe. That's Who I am Right? This is What U Paint Me as Right?

Some Egotistical Lunatic

Give it up Greggie Goo GOo. Do like Eddie's last Movie and SHUT UP. Ur Soiling The Great Eddie Murphy's Name Everytime U Try.

What was the first Word out the Clowns Mouth, Any Of Them?

"Dashi", Followed by Some Corny Joke Or Just plain I hate the Dashi so let me call him Dumb. Do U see Me come on here and Make FUN OF ALL THE NIMROD'S and Geniuses Here.

Do I Provoke any of U? No

But Don't get it Twisted, I will Respond and Layeth The SmackDown On anyone who Tries to Belittle, DeNigrate Or Punk Me. I might be Crazy, but U must be out ur F'n mind if U think I'ma let that Crap Fly.

Let's Stick To Sports

[Heatup]

Make me a bycicle clown!!

[Heatup]

*bicycle

[Dashi]

18-2 lead is talent and Coaching. Remember Someone has to be Responsible for those 5 guys working as 1. Now, Why Does it Seem every Lead is not Safe? Dominant Teams Keep that 18-2 Lead and Win by 20+. Inconsistency.

Greg U can Spell howeva U feel or like. I could Care Less. As long as I understand What Ur trying to say, I'm Fine(I was just Cracking a Joke I know We can't sit there and Double-Check Everything). I know I'm not Perfect and This isn't School, Write How U feel. As long as U and Me keep it to the 3 Main Language's Of Miami (English, Spanish, Creole) I'm Straight.

It makes it easier for everyone

And It's Douchey, Douchy Or Douchie

Ok Gumby

[jpejeff]

CONTOL BABY! That's what the f*ck I'm talking about. Great job Miami. The haters are preparing there excuses. Playing Durant's last shot over and over like it was the only missed call is irrisponsible. It did not decide this game. Miami just kicked their asz from start to finish. I thought KD should of fouled out on a charge. Play by play said,"even though the defender was set, his leg was still moving.".......Pause...... WTF! I never heard anything that dumb b4. Westbrook pushed off on that 3 pt play to cut the lead to 3. That was not a foul by LBJ. When SB banked the 3 off the board, he got knocked to the floor. One miss call don't decide a game. I hope the Thunder don't win another game. SB could have shot 2% from down town in the regular season and i wouldn't give a dam with the way he is shooting in this series. Wade is already making me forget about his struggles. If they win the title Spo gets the benefit of the doubt for many years. He coached a great game last night. Bosh was big and Bron was clutch. We have a good supporting cast. You didn't know....."Dam dumb haters!"

[energy_bust]

you know Dashi and Gemi, I think when Heatup first started on this blog, GregGembe went hard at him. Even me and Greg has our bouts. But at the end of the day we were all Heat fans and started to respect each other's opinions. But until you two start getting along, I'll keep cracking up on my end. Y'all are too funny with how y'all go at each other. lmao

[Dashi]

Hey It's all Fun And Games With ME. If Greg Just wants to be like that, It's Cool With me. I can Get Way More Creative With the Jokes. I've been PC till now.

No hard Feelings and I know Greg Feels the Same Way, He's Just a Richard.

I love a Good Argument and If U bring up a good point. I will Agree if it comes to my light I was Wrong. Just Don't Expect me to be a YES Man.

[Dashi]

I agree with Everything Jeff says.

They like to go back to the last play, But what about OKC's Play before When KD Committed a Charge. Or everytime Lebron Took It to the Hole and Sefalosha, KD, PErky, and Ibaka Are Hacking Like they are Cutting down a Plantain Tree With A Machete.

One Thing I give Spo Credit for is that Nobody can Complain about the Heat getting Away With Phantom Calls or With the HARDen Flopping like OKC and Boston. Spo Lets the Ref's Officiate the Game without ever Questioning Them or There Intentions(Shaving Points). So no team can ever say Spo influences the Officials to the benefit of his Team.

Spo Respects the Ref's So much, He's Afraid to Speak up to them on Behalf of His Team.

[energy_bust]

Harden should have been Charmin. I was disgusted by his flops. Has he no pride?

[taheati]

"Make me a bicycle clown!!"

---

LSLIASMF -> laughed so loud I almost swallowed my fries

(tho when I picture Dashi I see boyfriend, grammy or mommie)

[Dashi]

??? Stop it Ur Corny

Now, I'm ur boyfriend, or whatever else?

U see what I'm saying I don't mention clown yet clown has to make sure look at me. Trying to make fun of THE Dashi

Make me a bike? Sorry I'm not ya Daddy Son.

Might as well ask me for the lotto numbers.

Oh, let me guess u didn't choke on the fry cause U are used to swallowing bigger objects without gagging.

[Dashi]

Taheati, Let's Stick to BB. I believe U have Good Opinion's. Specially When U keep me Out Of It and Just Constructively Criticize this Team.

I know U say Player Execution Out-Weighs a Coaches Strategy and GamePlan. But U Urself Have Said Wade Shouldn't Be Guarding WB or Rondo, Right? I believe Chalmers is A little Slow to be Guarding Those Guys for 30+. Now If U rotate Players and Give Wade more Rest during Games. Not now but During the Regular Season, Maybe his Tires will still be pretty good to End the Season.

Treat Wade like an Old Sports Car U only take out on Sundays. Lebron Should not be treated like a Hooptie by this Amateur. Spo Just Ride's Him until the Tires fall off the Metro-Bus.

[Ironman]

SPO..RILES..THE HEAT....Stop bashing your young pt gd. Chalmers . He's losing confidence by the minute and you need him. You guys make mistakes and don't sound on each other that hard. You're going to need him.

Get a zone offense to rest up some as a team ,just be very aggressive when the balls in your area .It will give them another look too and will slow Westbrook down some if played correctly.. You must use Bosh more in pick and rolls in the low or mid block . He's very tall and hard to stop.But most of all force Wade n James to move he ball off man movement . Even when they're ball hogging , men can still move . These are my two favorite players but you must save them from themselves... Pls ...I beg of you..

This is James YR. You won't be able to touch him at home . Just like Dirk last YR. Kobe the YR before and Wade when he won in the finals.

[black the trucker]

Ok, listen, I just watched the Tunder press confrerence and both kd and westbrook had that look in their eyes, listen, we can not take this team lightly, this will be more about us than what their doing when its all said and done... We must win game 3... GAMEPLAN:.... First, our defense has to be on point, rebound at all cost for 53 minutes, they will try to attack on the btreak, we must run with them, foul trouble has been an issue, when we have the upper hand, ATTACK, kd, westbrook, harden will all try to drive in this one take the charge or be ready for the block, ibaka is one we have to attack as well... Bron, they can not hold you on the block, go down there early and often, get to the line, at least 15 times, look to run, no one can stop you in the open court... Wade, come to play, need a big one from you in this one... Bosh, come to play, NEED A BIG ONE FROM YOU IN THIS ONE, hit the glass, your quickness to the ball was huge in the last one.. UD, stay solid, need that jumper right, hit the glass.. Rio, stay aggressive, get to the line.. Shane, stay solid, your play has been huge here this year, thnx... Jones, if you could come in and get hot that would be huge... Our defens has to be great, but our offense has to be just as great to win this thing.... COME ON GUYS...GET THIS ONE... COME TO PLAY... FROM TIP TO BUZZER... THIS IS IT... WE HERE... AND WE READY... LET'S GO... 007...

[Dashi]

That Should be The Heat Intro Song

We Ready by Pastor Troy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QupEByFrXM&feature=related

Take it to them Finish This in 5

[mindrangr]

New Heat Motto..

"See it through"

Go Heat!

[Dashi]

Gameday, Let's Go Heat. Lets take the series lead.

[Joetee Jt]

where's battier?

[mike]

Start the parade. The refs aren't going to let the Heat lose this one. That was a 10 point whistle on Durant's 4th phantom foul. 6 point Thunder lead to a 4 point deficit with one blow of the whistle.

Refs:2
Thunder:1

[Dashi]

Sucks To be U.

U don't really want to bring the Ref's into this.

Good Job Spo. 2 More to go. Consistency All 48 Minutes. Let's Not Get Happy Yet. We need to win Game 4 to Break their Will.