Dallas Erases a 15 Point Deficit on the Road... Again!

Game 2 of the NBA Finals was C-R-A-Z-Y. Miami's big three of LeBron, Wade, and Bosh (otherwise known as "LeWosh") combined for about 12 electrifying dunks, but just one came in the fourth quarter and that was with about ten minutes left in the game. Under a minute to go in the fourth quarter, Dallas tied the game with a scratch-and-claw comeback (reminiscent of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between Dallas and OKC) that lasted nearly six minutes in which Miami only scored two points. Dirk took over in the final minute and the rest was history.

The story of the game doesn't really start until the end of the third quarter. Pivotal plays by Dallas/Blunderous Plays by Miami during this final stretch:

• Down 8 with 2:30 left in the third, Dirk deflects two errant passes (one from Mike Bibby, the other from LeBron James) into the hands of other Mavs which both result in scoring possessions. Miami's lead is cut to a manageable 4 points to begin the final period.
• After a 13-0 run by the Heat, Rick Carlisle calls a full timeout and inserts Tyson Chandler into the game for JJ Barea to get his team back on track defensively with 7:13 left. The new Dallas lineup holds Miami to a grand total of 5 points for the rest of the game. This was arguably the most successful coaching move in NBA Finals history. It goes without saying that Carlisle gives mind-blowing CJ's (coaching jobs)?
• Not including D-Wade's desperation shot at the buzzer, Miami shoots an ungodly nine threes in the last period... making only one of them.
• Up by two with a fresh shot clock and approaching a minute left in the game, Udonis Haslem attempts a shot but gets the ball tipped and stolen away by Jason Terry (instead of passing it back out and running down the shot clock for a dagger by LeWosh). The turnover leads to a Nowitzki layup to even things up.
• With the game tied and 26 seconds lift, Haslem (defending Dirk) goes under!!! the screen by Chandler and Nowitzki drains the shot to put Dallas up by a triple. Why on God's beautiful, lush, green earth would you go under the screen on a man who has thrived in the clutch this postseason and is eclipsing the 50% mark from downtown in these playoffs?! That's like playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and hoping that the gun will jam or something.
• Dirk hits the game-winning lefty layup using his reverse spin-hesitate-and-go move from the left elbow. When Dirk pulls that schnike, it's indefensible. Don't blame Bosh, Miami. Blame the basketball gods.

*Note: Give Spoelstra credit for unintentionally drawing up the perfect play to get Chalmers (Miami's hottest triplet shooter) wide open in the corner for a game-tying three*

So Dallas returns home having stolen home-court advantage, momentum, and all the swagger away from the Heat. But, don't give up on your team yet, South Beach. Because as I learned the hard way on Tuesday, never count out King James... never.