As a member of the Dallas Mavericks‘ squad in the 2011 playoffs, Jason Kidd was part of one of the greatest postseason runs the league has ever seen. Coming up against a stacked Miami Heat team in the Finals, Kidd recently recalled what helped Dallas shift its mindset to eventually win it all.
Kidd placed a lot of emphasis on the events of Game 2 of the Finals. He recalled:
“Great year. When we won, we didn’t know how to celebrate, but we didn’t want to stop playing.”
“One thing that happened in that game, Game 1, we thought we felt we should have won. Game 2, we’re down 15, and the scene is set where D-Wade and LeBron do their shadow boxing against each other, and it pissed us off. And we go out of that timeout saying we ain’t gonna lose to these guys doing this.”
“They were shadowboxing each other, and they were showboating a little. We came out, went on a run, and then won Game 2. And then that’s when everybody started to believe that we can win the championship.”
Kidd’s account of the series paints an interesting picture of how valuable a shift in mindset can be for a team’s performance.
After a tough 84-92 loss in Game 1 of the series, the Mavericks had their work cut out for them in Game 2. Going up against a superteam featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, Dallas had to wring out every ounce of inspiration and motivation to succeed.
Dallas managed to keep pace in the first half. However, the second quarter saw a shift in momentum, as Miami started capitalizing on Wade’s offensive charge.
The 15-point lead put the Heat in control of the game. Facing a potential 2-0 deficit, Dallas rallied together around their star, Dirk Nowitzki, in the fourth quarter.
The Mavs’ big man was nothing short of heroic in the final frame, logging nine points, three rebounds, and two assists. He was closely supported by Jason Terry, who recorded eight points in this stretch.
With a 22-5 run to close out the game, the Mavericks emerged victorious after an incredible team effort. Nowitzki ended the game with a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds to go with five assists. Although Kidd had a poor game, he played a key role in facilitating the offense, as he put up six points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
The win in Game 2 tied the series up at one game apiece, but Miami was far from being finished. The Heat came away with a crucial 88-86 win in Game 3 in Dallas before the series moved to Miami. However, this was also the last game they would win.
Dirk Nowitzki played like a man possessed for the remainder of the series. With dominant showcases in each game, the Mavericks rode the momentum to secure commanding victories, eventually emerging as champions. With an average of 26.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in the 2011 NBA Finals, Nowitzki earned the Finals MVP award.
