The worst thing for the two teams involved in the NBA Finals might be the time between games. Players develop a "playing rhythm" which may or may not be slightly altered in the Finals.
With at least two or three days between games the bigger issue is everybody seems to have a theory as to what adjustments need to be made from the previous game and every play is seemingly dissected over and over.
It’s not bad for the San Antonio Spurs, as they came out on top in Game 1, but the Miami Heat have had to weather a storm of criticism with Chris Bosh, in particular, being a favourite target as he had a disappointing performance in Game 1, making him eager for a chance to knot the score.
Bosh was asked about the pressure that builds up between games for the losing squad as they look forward to the next contest.
"I don’t like to say anxiety, I prefer to call it excitement," said a smiling Bosh when asked about the break and requisite adjustment period between games when changes are made. "It’s a part of the job and I think that feeling is good sometimes because we know what’s at stake."
The Heat have responded in these situations in the past. Since the "Big Three" came together, Miami has dropped Game 1 of a series on three occasions and each time it has answered the "Heat might be in trouble" rhetoric with four straight wins to close out the series. It may be different this time, but Bosh understands why there has been such an emphatic reply in the past.
"Being in that position, you have to respond. This team has responded time and time out because of this feeling that we have right now," he said candidly.
"You don’t like it, it really sucks," remarked the former Toronto Raptor about losing Game 1. "Sometimes it picks up your urgency and it helps us out a lot. We’re going to really have to use that to propel us in the rest of the series."
After Bosh missed a wide open 3-point shot at a crucial juncture late in the fourth quarter his performance became a subject of discussion. Then again, so did every other player on the Miami squad.
As an aside, I can’t believe some think LeBron James didn’t do enough to help his team win. Hmmm, I guess triple-doubles aren’t what they used to be and don’t have the same value to some observers.
Ah, but I digress, Bosh understands the criticism that the losing squad endures after each contest because, as we all know, when a team is losing or a player is performing poorly everyone has the answer. Good thing for him that at this point in his career he has virtually become immune to his detractors.
"I’ve been criticized since I’ve got here, whether I’m successful or not," grinned Bosh. "That’s just a part of it and I just keep moving on. Everybody wants you to play like a number one guy when you’re not in that position but that’s not my role here."
No question that Miami fits the bill now in the conventional theory that says the more desperate team will come out and win the next game. But as one member of the Heat said in reference to the Spurs, "We’re dealing with champs here."
So what will Miami have to do?
Look for more pressure on Spurs point guard Tony Parker in a number of ways. Expect the Heat to try and make him work defensively and make it more difficult for him at the offensive end by extending their defence against him.
The Heat’s offence is based on ball movement and the Spurs shut that down in the second half of Game 1 to the tune of only seven assists while forcing Miami into seven turnovers, five of which came in the final quarter. Look for more consistent ball movement from Miami. As for Bosh’s offensive role in the Heat adjustments, expect to see fewer 3-point shots from him and more mid-range jumpers and touches in the paint.
The Game 1 winner lifts the championship trophy 71 per cent of the time. Those percentages increase dramatically to 90 per cent if the ledger moves to 2-0 as there have only been three comebacks in the finals after losing the first two contests. The caveat, Miami in 2006 was one of those three teams.
But as mentioned earlier, this isn’t the Spurs’ first rodeo. Yes, Game 2 is all about adjustments. Let’s see what the Heat have in store.