NBA Finals – Game Two Prediction and Preview

Before I get into this, look at that awesome Battier Face up there. Looks like I might have to add to the gallery. Anyway, game two of the NBA Finals kicks off tonight just after 9pm Eastern time, and it's big. Not only does the team that wins game one win 70 percent of the series, it's even tougher to come back from an 0-2 deficit. Though OKC did just that in the Western Conference Finals, but I digress.

I picked the Heat to win game one, and for the first half I looked like a genius. Of course, they play two halves and the Thunder annihilated the Heat in the second half to take it.

The keys for Miami, other than playing a full 48 minutes, are that they have to get more of an effort from Dwyane Wade. Sure, he had 19 points and 8 assists in game one, but it wasn't nearly enough. He has to be more aggressive for the Heat to compete.

If Wade can be more assertive, it will open things up even more for LeBron James. Speaking of LeBron, he had a great game in the first contest. Don't be fooled by stupid graphics that say 'LeBron 23 points in quarters 1-3, only 7 in the fourth.' THAT'S THE SAME AVERAGE! Yet ESPN continues to pound this 'not clutch' narrative out there.

The other thing the Heat need to figure out is how to keep Russell Westbrook from blowing past them every play. He shot terribly in the first game, but he was going wherever he wanted. OKC will keep doing it until Miami figures out a way to stop it. Kevin Durant is going to get his points, Miami has to slow down the other guys.

I'm going out on a limb here and saying the Heat pull this one off.

Heat win by 5.