NBA Finals Game 1 - Quick Takes
1st Half:
The Heat started strong, kept the energy out of Chesapeake Energy Arena. There was little to no lethargy in this one, despite an exhausting ECF Finals Game 7 only two days back. The Thunder, on the other hand, despite having 6 days off, looked anything but fresh. The Thunder looked very much like a team alien to the concept of defense in the 1st quarter. They didn’t play it, nor did they figure out the Heat’s defense. They eventually did, with a strong 27 point 2nd quarter. And then they never looked back.
So how about this LeBron James guy, huh? He played all but two minutes of the first half, leading all scorers with 14 points on 5-12 shooting. He also had four steals and four rebounds. This is after having played 48, 45, 45 and 48 minutes in his last four games against a tenacious Boston defense. Call him Ironman. He finished with 30p-9r-4a-4s on 11-24 shooting in 46 minutes.
Durant started off on LeBron, but picked up his first foul with 9:52 to go in the 1st. Hate that match-up for OKC early in the game. KD was treading on eggshells on the D after, not wanting to pick up his second. LeBron will have his in this series – OKC simply do not have anybody to guard him for 4 quarters, with perhaps Sefolosha being the best primary option.
KD was the only thing going right for a passive OKC offense in the 1st quarter, as he drained two treys and a long jumper for his first three makes. He was very good in the first half. That dunk after the Joel Anthony blow by? Best play of the first half. Roused a crowd that was desperate for something to cheer.
And then Bosh responded with a contested trey, grabbing the momentum right back. OKC gave up way too many open 3-pointers in the 1st quarter, the Heat starting 5-6 from behind the arc. OKC picked up the defensive slack in the second, with the Heat missing 3 of the next 4. Nothing stops the Heat if Battier and Chalmers play like they did in the first half. They combined for 23 points on 9-12 shooting. Big half for the role players. Haslem had 9 rebounds, continuing his ongoing Dennis Rodman impression. As for OKC’s supporting cast, they were largely invisible. Except for two big Derek Fisher buckets in the second quarter.
Kendrick Perkins found himself with the ball deep in the low post and Battier guarding him early in the 1st quarter. He was then called for travelling. If not on Battier under the basket, then when? Harden was passive in the 1st half, as was Westbrook. RW picked up the pace towards the end of the 2nd quarter. Not coincidentally, the Thunder cut a 13 point lead to 7.
LOL moment from the 1st quarter – Derek Fisher went coast to coast and finished on a beautiful transition layup. Yes, it’s 2012 and Kobe is 34 years old. For Heat coach Erik Spoelstra though, the laugh came when he was asked by ESPN’s Doris Burke what sort of shots he wanted KD to take. To be fair, it was almost an incredulous laugh. I think we can be reasonably certain he didn’t find all those swishes funny.
2nd half:
Everything OKC were not in the first quarter, they were in the third. Westbrook’s best quarter turned out to be OKC’s best quarter. Once again, not a coincidence. RW was very good in this one, if yet short of his electric best, with 12 points in the period. His was aggressive, both on offense and defense. Note to Westbrook: NEVER TAKE ANOTHER THREE POINTER IN YOUR LIFE! Seofolosha was spectacular on defense. A Sefolosha steal early in the quarter set the defensive tone for the Thunder. The Miami Heat offense sputtered and fizzled out consequently, although Shane Battier continued to channel his inner Steve Novak. Way too many long jumpshots for Wade and James in the 3rd.
This didn’t change in the fourth as OKC raced to a 5 point lead within two minutes. The Heat really have to run more Wade-Bron pick and rolls. At this point, it’s absolutely mystifying why they don’t. Note to Wade: NEVER TAKE ANOTHER THREE POINTER IN YOUR LIFE. When LeBron was aggressive, the Heat were aggressive. How LeBron goes, the Heat go. RW and Sefolosha really hounded Wade in the third, especially coming off the pick and roll. RW is the most important player for the Thunder (this series, next season, in the future, whatever)- he does a lot more for the Thunder. Court vision, defense, ball pressure, hustle.
As good as KD was offensively in the fourth, there are extended stretches of time where he simply disappears. He’s got to get more involved in the game. Which is where Russell Westbrook contributes so much more. RW finished with a near triple double – 27 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists. And once again, Nick Collison did so many things that will not show up in the box score.
Funny lineup that closed out the game for OKC: Fisher, Westbrook, Sefolosha, Durant, Collison. And the Heat still took jumpers, despite the lack of shot-blocking and post defense. And still missed. Terrible offensive execution in the 2nd half for the Heat. Once again, they come up short down the stretch offensively. That remains the biggest concern with the Heat. The Heat just looked tired, dispirited and disjointed down the stretch. By midway through the fourth, it was almost as if they were resigned to defeat. Or perhaps it was that wild Chesapeake Arena crowd.
The Heat need more from LeBron. It almost seems unreasonable to ask for more, but the Heat won’t pull off this upset unless LeBron plays at his highest level. Like the Celtics series. One has to wonder if LeBron has enough left in the tank at this point.
And Kevin Durant might just have a Finals for the ages. It sure is shaping up that way, with KD scoring 17 points in the fourth on his way to 36 points. Right now, KD is defining himself as everything LeBron is not. Of course, a Dwyane Wade circa the 2011 Finals would significantly ease the burden on LeBron.
It’s back to the drawing board for the Heat. They’re going to take some flak for this one. But the fact remains that the Heat lost a game they were expected to lose. Game 2 in Oklahoma City now becomes vital. If the Heat win game 2, they become favourites for the series heading back to Miami where they are 7-2 this postseason. Such is life in the NBA Finals, where momentum shifts quick and fast. Just ask the 2011 Miami Heat. As for OKC, they need to continue doing what they’re doing for four more games. And try waking James Harden and his beard up from a 48 minute long slumber.
Last thoughts: Kevin Durant? WOW