NBA Playoffs 2012: Mavericks' All-or-Nothing Game 3 Looms Against Thunder

After tonight, the city of Dallas is going to experience one of two things: 

Either fans will celebrate in jubilation, knowing that their beloved Mavericks are nowhere near finished in this playoff series, or fans will riot in the streets and set cars on fire.

Okay, maybe things won't be that extreme, but you get the idea.

It's basically all-or-nothing for the defending champs tonight in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where the Mavs are trailing 2-0 in a series for the first time since 2009.

If you need a bit of a refresher, the last time it happened was the second-round series against the Denver Nuggets and Carmelo Anthony. Yes, Game 3 of that series still pains me just as much. And considering the way this series has gone on so far, I wouldn't be surprised if we had another last-second situation in the American Airlines Center tonight.

It's been a difficult two games for the reigning champs, who have lost both by a combined four points, with one of them coming on a miraculous game-winner by Kevin Durant, a shot that will be engraved in the minds of Dallas fans for the rest of their days.

Far be it from me to remain calm about what's been happening here during the last two contests—and oh, believe me, I've gotten the neighbors living above me pretty mad lately–but, this series is still far from over.

Or at least I'm hoping that's the case.

It depends how you look at it. One can either take these first two games and say the Mavs have gone toe-to-toe with the young stars in Oklahoma City, a team that was projected to run them out the building, and have done well in spite of those predictions. Or, you can look at it by just observing the score of the series—2-0 OKC.

The best way to evaluate this situation is by looking at the fact that even though they're down 2-0 and have clearly been defeated emotionally and mentally a great deal, the Mavs are back home.

They've clearly established that they're not a good road team and can't win away from home. But if they come back and tie this series within the next two games, Dallas better figure out how to win on the road.

But, trying to not look too far ahead, this is what legends are made of come playoff time: The ability to come through in pressure situations when your team and fan base needs you the most.

If one could guess the mindset of Dirk Nowitzki when he first woke up today, the first thought running through his head was probably, "If I have to force the ball out of Jason Terry's hands to get me more touches in the fourth quarter tonight, so be it."

Because this game will come down to the fourth quarter again and it will be all on Nowitzki and his ability to lead this team down the stretch. The only time he should pass the ball in the final period tonight is if he's triple teamed by Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and a fan who rushes the court because he's highly inebriated.

There should be no reason why Jason Kidd should take an absurd amount of contested three-pointers, unless he feels extremely confident that he's going to make them. He surely wasn't confident in making them in Game 2.

Depth is important and having multiple shot-makers on your team is of a highest priority. But, there comes a time when you need to step back and let the guys who have done it before do their job. And if there's a point in time tonight where it's been four minutes since Dirk last took a shot, and it comes in the final minute, then someone needs to be mentally analyzed, heavily.

Now, this may sound absurd—maybe more than absurd, you'll probably think I'm just plain nuts—but it's essential that Shawn Marion comes off of Durant tonight and makes Russell Westbrook do some serious work on the offensive end. Westbrook has not only torched the Mavs with a high-point total, but he's killed them with an effective shooting percentage.

I'm all for leaving Westbrook wide open, but he's made it clear, especially in this series, that he can knock down the open shot. And while Marion's done more than an exceptional job holding Durant to a low percentage, maybe playing on Westbrook wouldn't be such a bad idea.

It's clearly obvious what's at stake here tonight for Dallas. They either climb back in this series in a resounding way, or are put in a 3-0 hole that would require one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history to get out of.

Tonight may just be what the doctor ordered. It's an obvious must-win situation for the Mavs, but now the gloves are off. They've proven they can hang with the Thunder for four quarters and make it an interesting game.

Now they need to prove they can beat them. And if they can't do it tonight?

Maybe it's time to start making calls to Deron Williams' agent.