It looked just like Don Nelson and his populous brain trust had planned it during another back-to-the-drawing-board session at halftime.

The ball was in Tim Duncan's hands in the middle of the paint, and the Mavericks' zone defense was collapsing fast.

Dirk Nowitzki cut off Duncan's path to his left. Eduardo Najera stopped him to the right. Steve Nash was even closing in from behind.

But with less than 10 seconds on the clock and the game in the balance, Nelson still didn't feel comfortable.