Associated Press
DALLAS ó After two days of intense film study and painstaking analysis of the final 14 possessions in their end-of-game collapse in Game 2 of the NBA finals, the Miami Heat finally came up with the reason why.
It wasnít a highly technical reason.
ěWe let one go,î Dwyane Wade said.
And entering Game 3 of the NBA finals, the Heat will try to let Game 2 go again. The way Miami sees it, carrying over the stigma of that loss ó one of the worst late-game collapses in finals history ó would only doom them again tonight when the scene shifts to steamy Dallas for the first of three games on the Mavericksí home floor.
Dallas rallied from 15 points down in the final 7 minutes to beat Miami in Game 2, outscoring the Heat 22-5 to finish the game and knot the series. Thanks to that win, Mavsí fans still may see another NBA championship celebration, only this time, by the Western Conference champions and not a Heat team that hoisted a trophy at Dallas after the 2006 finals.
ěIn the playoffs, itís a win or a loss. However it comes by, itís a win or a loss,î Heat forward LeBron James said. ěWeíve moved on from Game 2, seen the mistakes weíve made. Seen some of the great things weíve done as well. Itís a win or loss. The series is tied 1-1. We never get too high or too low in the series. We havenít gotten too high or low in the regular season as well.î