NBA Playoffs 2011: Dallas Mavericks Comeback Sets Up Game 5 Win vs. Thunder

After all the hoopla in Game 4 before their home crowd, the Oklahoma City Thunder fans began leaving with the game still in doubt. They had had enough. Enough of the youngsters. Enough of the Dallas Mavericks. And perhaps enough of the NBA.

As they streamed out, with Durant staying on the floor with his head in his hands, and the teams' shoulders sagging, you knew it was almost certainly over. Not only has history shown that you simply do not come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA playoffs, it has shown that doing so without home-court advantage is practically impossible.

There have been many great comebacks in NBA history. The most publicized is Reggie Miller scoring eight points in 16.4 seconds to win a game that was certainly already won by the New York Knicks. The Boston Celtics beat the New Jersey Nets after trailing by 21 points at the start of the fourth quarter. And the Dallas Mavericks came back in their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder from a 15 point deficit in the final five minutes to tie the game, and then win in overtime.

There are many ways to gauge a comeback. Was it done with the least amount of time? Was it due to team play or a single player? When was it done? Were the teams evenly matched? Was the comeback staged on a hostile court? What was the losing team's record on the court where they were playing? What was the impact of the win? What were the game circumstances, and how close did the other team come to winning?

Surely, the comeback in Game 4 of the Mavericks vs. Thunder NBA Western Conference Finals ranks in the top comebacks of all time. Especially its impact.

After never leading in regulation, the Mavericks old folks finally tied the game in the last six or so seconds. And despite the fact that Durant had a shot at the end, old man Jason Kidd stole the ball with what should have been 1.2 seconds giving the Mavericks a catch and shoot opportunity. Instead, the Mavericks had a chance to win with 0.7 seconds left, missing on the pass near the basket as time expired.

There were more fouls called on the Thunder in this game than in Game 3. One commentator kept complimenting Nick Collison on his great defense, an integral part of that defense was holding Dirk Nowitzki on the left side on every move he made. That foul could have been called the whole game. It was not until late in the game, with the mugging continuing but with Nowitzki finally getting to the line, making 14 of 15 free throws.

Both James Harden and Collison finally fouled out, with Harden's loss with around five minutes to go making the Thunder different than it was with him in the game. Collison's loss during overtime was another difference maker.

Yet there was no denying that in the end, the game belonged to the old men in the Dallas uniforms. Regulars Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, Kidd and Nowitzki averaged about 42 minutes in the game. Without those minutes, the Mavericks were tied in the series 2-2.

And the most obvious star was Nowitzki as usual.

There were a number of very notable statistics in this game. Almost all were Nowitzki's.

Nowitzki played 45 minutes, more than any other Dallas player. He hit 12 of 20 field goals, including two of three three-point plays. Only Kidd made more and none had as high a percentage. He had three assists. Only Kidd, Durant and Westbrook had more. He outscored everyone else on the floor by 11 points or more, having his second 40-plus point game in this series.

In the end, it was Nowitzki who made 12 of the final 17 points to end the game. Two were the typically impossible seven footer fallaways that had arms akimbo, legs at weird angles and hands contorted. At these times, only the motion of the ball, arching with backspin, seems of NBA quality. Yet they go in, usually without touching the rim. One of the best shooters in NBA history. Surely, the best over 6'10" on the planet. And without a doubt the best shooter on the floor.

In the end, Nowitzki made two of three three-pointers. Durant had to take seven to make two. Nowitzki shot 12 of 20, or 60 percent for the game. Durant shot nine of 22, for a pinch under 41 percent.

In what are perhaps the most unusual statistics in this game, the Thunder out-rebounded the Mavs 55 to 33, blocked seven more shots and outshot the Mavs 46.7 percent to 43.2 percent.

So why did the Mavs win?

The answer is buried in what are often meaningless statistics that have become critical in this series.

The Mavs shot 14 more free-throws than the Thunder, and made 15 more. Normally when you say Russel Westbrook missed three free-throws it is meaningless. Against the Mavs, whose gutsy free-throw shooting is far better than any other team in the clutch, you just cannot miss your opportunities. Especially because you are usually on the line in this series because of imbalanced foul calling, going against the Mavs.

If they called 29 fouls against the Thunder, with several in the overtime, and 22 against the Mavs, they probably missed 10 or more that should have been called against the Thunder. Even without the posturing, scowling and down-right dangerous Kendrick Perkins, largely benched in this series after his rough stuff in the first two games. In fact, anyone guarding Nowitzki by holding him around the left waist with his left hand so he cannot make his preferred move to his right while backing to the basket, bumping him while shooting with the body and slamming him around the shoulders and head when in close should have a foul called when not in the act of shooting, much less in the act itself.

This is why Collison has had success. Despite doing this through the last two games, he was only called late in Game 4 for this clear foul. You cannot hold a player on his side without drawing a foul. Yet he and others have done this largely with impunity.

But nothing has deterred the referees in this series from allowing far more contact against Nowitzki than Durant faces. Durant gets touch fouls in his favor. Nowitzki needs an almost cataclysmic foul before it is called.

In the end, we have begun to wonder whether the referees are biased against Nowitzki. How many dislike this German man whose combination of deft shooting touch and work ethic is unlike any big man the NBA has ever seen.

Yet, despite his heroics and wondrous talent, the man on the floor on Monday night was Jason Kidd. All 38 years of experience. Stripping balls, seeing the entire court and hitting the critical three when the game was on the line.

Whatever you may say, throwing in Shaquille O'Neal, who at 39 is the oldest active player whose days were effectively done two years ago, Robert "The Chief" Parrish who played until he was nearly 44 and Kevin Willis who was effective until he was almost 45, Kidd is the consummate professional. Unlike any other player than John Stockton who was 41 when he retired, Kidd still plays point guard with both effectiveness and efficiency at his age. In the end, the whole team rotates around and succeeds because of Kidd.

If Kidd makes it to the NBA Finals, which seems inevitable now, he will have a chance to become the oldest man who led his team as a point guard to the NBA Championship. He could do it again and again.

Many forget that Kidd was with the Mavs his first two seasons, and that his return was designed to get the team its first NBA championship ever.

Game 5 is before the home crowd in Dallas. A group of people who are now less about their team's owner and much more about the team.

After 32 years and a load of heartbreak, Kidd, Nowitzki and their team are poised to win the team's only NBA championship in 32 years. Game 5 should get them to that level again.

And although Miami seems ready to challenge them, the Mavs seem ready to beat them.

Only the referees can stop them. If they get fouls called against Miami despite the Three Kings Rules, the Mavs will win the NBA Championship in 5 games. Take it to the bank.