The crowd erupted as it witnessed the 2006 Finals MVP knock down a game-clinching three-pointer to put the Miami Heat up 15 against the Dallas Mavericks. The only problem was that there was still 7:33 left on the game clock.
For most of the game, Miami was spectacular, forcing the Mavs to feel claustrophobic at times while on offense.
Dwyane Wade was especially impressive. Resembling the guy that brought Miami its first NBA title in 2006, scoring 36 points at getting any shot he wanted.
Unfortunately for Wade and the Heat, the Dallas Mavericks summoned their inner Bill Pullman from Independence Day and refused to “go quietly into the night.”
Dallas would close the game on a 22-5 run to steal Game 2 of the NBA Finals along with home court advantage.
I will go as far as to use the cliché that Dallas did not “win” this game, rather Miami “lost” it.
It is not the first time this season the Heat have allowed an opponent to come back and steal a victory due to complacency. It happened against Utah, Orlando and now Dallas.
After Wade converted the three-pointer to put Miami up 15, the sense around the arena and on the Heat bench was that victory had been attained. It clearly was not.
As a result, of Miami’s final 11 shots that followed, 6 were 3 pointers (Miami only converted 1) and only 1 was a lay up (point blank miss from LeBron). That means 10 of Miami’s final 11 shots were all jumpers.
While Dallas does play a defense that attempts to keep Miami from driving into the paint, it was not the reason why the Heat were settling for the jump shot.
This team has done this for many stretches throughout the season where they get away from what they are best at and instead settle for inefficient jump shots. In turn they allowed Dallas to make up the ground by virtually allowing Dallas space that they simply were not prior to the Wade three.
I will give the Mavs some credit. It is not easy to go on the road in any environment and have such an amazing comeback. The shots still need to be made and Dallas hit them.
With the next 3 games all in Dallas, the Mavs now have a distinct home court advantage over Miami and the Heat will have to win at least one to stay alive in this series.
Miami has won at least one road game in each playoff series thus far which is about the only positive they can take after this embarrassing loss.