Chris Mannix: Four thoughts off Game 2 of NBA Finals

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? Series tied 1-1 ? POINTS REBOUNDS ASSISTS ?

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Shane Battier has 17 points in each of the first two Finals games. He eclipsed that mark once in the regular season.

John W. McDonough/SI

GAME 1? Thunder 105, Heat 94 GAME 2? Heat 100, Thunder 96 GAME 3? at MIA, Sun. June 17, 8 p.m., ABC GAME 4? at MIA, Tue. June 19, 9 p.m., ABC GAME 5? at MIA, Thu. June 21, 9 p.m., ABC GAME 6? at OKC, Sun. June 24, 8 p.m., ABC* GAME 7? at OKC, Tue. June 26, 9 p.m., ABC* *if necessary; all times Eastern

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Four thoughts after the Heat's 100-96 victory over the Thunder in Game 2 of the NBA Finals ...

The small lineup comes up big. Miami did the expected, reinserting Chris Bosh into the starting lineup. What was unexpected was the decision to play Bosh at center, leaving Shane Battier and LeBron James as the forwards, playing alongside a backcourt of Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers, a lineup the Heat did not start together during the regular season or playoffs. But another sharp shooting night for Battier (more on that below) and a strong game from Bosh (16 points, 15 rebounds) coupled with a quicker defensive team in transition (after racking up 24 fast-break points in Game 1, OKC didn't have a single fast-break point in the first half, finishing with 11 overall) helped build an early lead Miami never relinquished.

Another slow start doomed the Thunder. Oklahoma City has been playing with fire lately, falling behind San Antonio and Miami by double digits in the first half. Scott Brooks admitted to me before the game he was concerned about slow starts. "We definitely talked about it," Brooks said. "We have to come out better, better defensive balance, better offensive execution. It's tough to come back when you're down [big]."

Well the Thunder did it again in Game 2, falling behind by as many as 17 points, trailing at halftime by 12. They were sloppy and undisciplined early, committing three turnovers in the first quarter and shooting 25 percent from the floor. They rallied again in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to two late in the game but never were able to even the score. Oklahoma City has done a remarkable job digging themselves out of holes, but against a team with the firepower of Miami, it just can't get away with it all series.

Shane Battier shines (again). That $3 million per year for Battier looks pretty good now, doesn't it? After racking up 17 points in Game 1, Battier pumped in another 17 on Thursday, knocking down six of his eight three-point attempts, making it nine of 13 from three for the series. Throw in his pesky defense -- Durant admitted after Game 1 that Battier's face-guarding D bothered him -- and Battier is emerging as the unheralded star of this series.

Shake it up. Brooks has stuck with Kendrick Perkins through good times and bad this postseason, but it may be time to sit the beefy center down. Miami's small lineup leaves them vulnerable under the rim, but the offensively challenged Perkins has not been able to take advantage of the mismatches. He has just eight points in this series, and while he has rebounded well (7.5 per game) Oklahoma City may start experimenting more with an Ibaka/Durant front line, which would allow them to get James Harden's offense (21 points in Game 2) in the starting lineup and make them more athletic in the open floor. Even with the small lineup, the Heat crushed the Thunder in points in the paint (48-32). Changes, they could be a-coming.

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