An unprecedented sense of sorrow hung over the Dallas Mavericks' home court. They were keenly aware of the effort they had poured into this season to reach the Finals, and they had always been proud of themselves.
But then, the Finals arrived.
They had been happy for a time, but after two consecutive losses on the road, their joy came to an abrupt end. In the media, their status had shifted from a sure-win to a toss-up, and now, they were merely meat on the chopping block.
They didn't want to accept this reality.
But that reality was taking shape.
Even the most die-hard Mavericks fans couldn't imagine how the team could possibly pull off a win at this point.
The Knicks seemed to be full of flaws and weaknesses, but once they took the court and the game started, you'd find they were an impenetrable, steel-forged behemoth.
