Erik Spoelstra hints at starting Chris Bosh, will rest LeBron James and Dwyane Wade

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra hinted at starting Chris Bosh for Game 2 of the NBA Finals, and will rest Lebron James and Dwyane Wade more. (Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images)

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday that he will be using a deeper rotation for Game 2 of the NBA Finals to heed the call of Lebron James' need for more rest and will use Chris Bosh "more like we used him in the regular season," according to ESPN's Rachel Nichols.

After the teams loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, James said that Spoelstra needs to expect more from his bench to give him, Wade and Battier more rest, according to AP sports reporter Jeff Latzke:

We know we have to have more production for sure,'' said James, who had never scored more than 25 points in his two previous finals appearances. "We have to have more guys in there to give me and D-Wade a rest, and Shane (Battier). Shane played a lot of minutes. But Spo will figure that out.''

James has been averaging nearly 43 minutes per game in the 2012 NBA playoffs, and over 45 minutes per game in five of the last seven playoff games.

James said following Wednesday's practice that he needs more help from Wade also, according to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News:

Sometimes I go to him and tell him I need one of those games from him,’’ James said before the Heat’s practice. “He knows he still has it, too, but every player needs a little kick every now and then, no matter how time-tested they are. I continue to try to let him know how important he is to the team, which he should know, but he also needs to be D-Wade and not worry about deferring as much.