By Brian Windhorst
ESPN.com
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MIAMI -- The execution wasn't perfect -- how often is it in the playoffs? -- but the Miami Heat whipped up the recipe Saturday they intend to use in attempting to win an NBA title.

It included relying outrageously on their three All-Stars from start to finish, depending on the versatility of LeBron James and giving Dwyane Wade the keys to drive the offense in the closing possessions of a tight game. It worked against a Philadelphia 76ers team that clearly intends to play the gutty underdog, as the Heat went up 1-0 with a 97-89 victory.

Whether or not that game plan becomes standard will, of course, depend on just how well it works. After 82 games of trial-and-error, this has emerged as the working strategy. After all, the Heat are now 16-3 in their last 19 games applying these principles, especially the Wade facet.

Following the series of close losses in March, when the Heat allowed winnable high-profile games to slip away because of offensive failings at the end, they appointed Wade their closer. It didn't come with a press release. In fact, the Heat downplayed it because they'd much prefer it doesn't become one of those heavily debated issues. But it's still obvious.

The reason so many zero in on that role, though, is because it is so important this time of year. Saturday was a choppy game. Neither team was thrilled with its overall product. The Sixers led by 14 points in the first half and the Heat led by 16 points in the second.

But with four minutes remaining, the difference was only three points, yet another NBA playoff game headed for a climax. So the Heat flipped into that practiced plan, as Erik Spoelstra inserted Wade into the game with five fouls to take control of the offense. Meanwhile, James shifted to power forward and was asked to do the dirty work, which meant not having the ball with the game on the line.

This is new for James and not typical of a two-time Most Valuable Player, which shines a huge spotlight on it. But it is also not typical to have a player like Wade, a Finals MVP for his closing ability, on the floor as the other option.

The result? Wade scored five points that put the Heat over the top as he executed two of his trademark attacks. He scored just 17 points for the game but those at the end proved twice as valuable.

Wade zipped off picks from Chris Bosh and barreled toward the rim doing what he's done best in his career -- something he wasn't doing as much when the Heat struggled in those spots earlier in the season.

"That's probably so overstated," Spoelstra said when asked if Wade was his designated closer, trying to cut the topic off at the knees. "The game will dictate. The way we've been playing the last few weeks, it depends."

There's no shame in admitting it: Wade's shiftiness and tools are perhaps better suited to take over in those situations than James' brute force. Their r�sum�s speak to that. The Sixers certainly knew it. After covering James and doing a quality job for much of the game -- James had 21 points on just 4-of-14 shooting -- top Sixers defender Andre Iguodala was switched to guard Wade for the finish.

"Wade is going to have the ball and Andre is our best individual defender, so we had planned on that coming in," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. "When Miami really took off this year, they put the ball in Wade's hands. We knew what their lineup was."

Collins was so sure of the Heat's intentions that he left 6-foot-4, 180-pound Jrue Holiday to guard James because he wanted his biggest players near the rim to be able to help when Wade attacked. Despite having four inches and perhaps 80 pounds on Holiday, James played his role of perimeter decoy and stood back while Wade went to work. James remained a dangerous option if needed, but he was the second option.

Wade made it work again. His difference-maker came amidst a high-speed collision with help defender Thaddeus Young. Wade heaved a high-arcing lob that banked in with 1:34 left that virtually won the game. The Sixers were upset, convinced Wade had created space by using his leg and it should've been his sixth and disqualifying foul. Instead it was part of a frustrating afternoon as the Heat got to the foul line 39 times and the Sixers just 15.

Collins complained about the disparity to officials all game and pointed to it as a deciding factor after it, but stopped short of going into territory that would get him fined.

"I could [talk about it] but my grandkids would lose their college funds," Collins said with a frustrated laugh, perhaps happy it was the first question he was asked after the game. "I can't respond to that."

But having the James-Wade combo often leads to free throws. The Heat took 300 more foul shots than their opponents this season, and in Game 1 James and Wade combined for 22 attempts. At the end, it just seems to be Wade who is most effective at getting it done.

It worked against the Lakers a month ago when the Heat started their strong run, and in several games since. And it will likely continue to be the plot when these situations arise in the postseason.

"I think we understand our game coming down the stretch," Wade said. "We can feature either guy at that moment and Coach decided to feature me and I was able to get to the basket and get fouled a couple times."

James was heavily involved. He had five rebounds and a block in the fourth quarter as he played the consummate big man. He finished with 14 rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the type of well-rounded effort he's become famous for. It was exactly what the Heat needed.

"It's the postseason, I'm just trying to do whatever it takes to win," James said. "[Wade] was able to do some great things offensively and I was able to clean the glass and it helped us win the game."

With Bosh delivering a strong first playoff game with a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds, the Heat's All-Stars put together a combined effort of 63 points, 33 rebounds, 11 assists and four blocks. It was still a game in the final two minutes, which the Sixers considered a moral victory, even with that effort.

Collins said the Sixers are trying to keep the Miami trio under 75 points so they can have a chance. The last time the teams met (last month) they had 91 points and it was still a game in the fourth quarter, too. The Heat don't feature reliable support behind those three, so these types of games are likely to continue for Miami no matter the opponent.

Which is why it's vital to have a dependable closing scheme in place, and not letting egos get in the way may decide how far they go.

"Whoever is out there, nobody wants to lose and you do what you are supposed to do," Bosh said. "We expect to make a long run."

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