2011 NBA Finals: Why LeBron James and Dwyane Wade Are to Blame for Game 2 Loss

Let the finger-pointing begin.  

Miami's collapse at the conclusion of Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals was the stuff of legend.  It was monumental, nearly unbelievable as it was happening.  

Who is responsible for letting this happen?     

The two biggest stars of Miami's Big 3: Lebron James and Dwyane Wade.  

James and Wade were phenomenal for all but about the last 5 minutes of the game for Miami.  They were running fast-breaks and throwing down dunks left and right.  

Wade was sparkling, scoring 36 points and making play after play on both ends.  James was up to his usual business, doing a bit of everything.  

After Wade hit that impossible corner 3-pointer, it all changed.  Dallas' offense was uber-efficient over the next seven minutes.  James and Wade were awful and faltered when it mattered most:

1)  Instead of taking the ball to the rim with authority, they settled. In the last 3 Miami possessions, Wade and James took turns settling for contested, long-distance jumpers.  That is not the strong suit in either players' repertoires.    

2)  James (and Wade) failed to step up and lead their team when the Heat needed it badly.

3)  James did not step up and take on Nowitzki on the Mavs' game-winning possession.

If the Heat are to win in Dallas, James and Wade need to remain focused and finish games.