When Dirk Nowitzki stared down the basket with a tied score and seconds remaining in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, he wasn’t just staring down a potential victory. He was staring down a road win against the overwhelmingly brilliant Miami Heat Big 3. He was staring down yet another comeback for a 2011 Dallas Mavericks defined by them. He was staring down a shot at revenge for the team that stifled his Mavs back in 2006 and with it a chance to take control of his legacy. This final Mavs possession in Game 2 was a huge fork in the road. Before we watch Dirk attack, we should rewind:

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