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Miami Needs a New Game Plan
Published: 6/13/2012 12:12 PM
Last Modified: 6/13/2012 12:12 PM

Miami has some decisions to make before Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night in Oklahoma City.
The Heat used a six-man rotation in Game 1, a 105-94 loss to the Thunder on Tuesday night. Miami played just six players more than 10 minutes. There is some question about how that wore on those players as OKC rallied in the fourth quarter.
Plus, there is the issue of Chris Bosh. Bosh, playing in just his fourth game since coming back from an injury, did not start the game.
Does Bosh go back into the starting lineup to try to help open up the driving lanes more for the Heat?
Then, there is the really big question. How do you slow down OKC’s Kevin Durant, who had 17 of his 36 in the fourth quarter.
“We know we have to have more production for sure,” said LeBron James. “We’re going to have to have more guys in there to give me and (Dwyane) Wade a rest.
“But, Spoel (coach Erik Spoelstra) will figure that out. We’ll be more conscious about it, just trying to get a minute or two here or there so we can finish strong.”
Bosh played well in the first game but will have to become even more of a factor if the series is to flip back in the direction of Miami. Bosh had 10 points in 33 minutes.
“Now we have four games under our best (with Bosh back),” said Spoelstra. “We’ll be able to get him closer to his game. He’s been very accepting of just trying to fit in.
“But I think we’re going to need more from him offensively and try to get him in spots where he is able to be aggressive.”
None of that may matter if the Heat can’t figure out a way to slow down Durant, who was unstoppable in the fourth quarter.
“We’ll try to keep our bodies in front of him as much as possible,” said Spoelstra. “That’s much easier said than done.
“He’s tough enough when he’s out behind the three-point line with that size, his length. He can get those looks off pretty much clean any time he wants. When he gets the easy ones, the basket starts to really grow and I think he was in a great rhythm.”



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Klein's Korner

Tulsa World senior sports columnist John Klein is in his fourth decade of covering sports. He started his newspaper career at The Daily Ardmoreite in 1977 and moved to the Tulsa World in 1978. He served 10 years as sports editor for the Tulsa World before being named to his current position in 2005. He also spent five years as the Southwest Conference beat writer for the Houston Post. He has won many writing awards and is a former Oklahoma Sports Writer of the Year.

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