Complexion of the NBA Finals changed that fast

Reporting from Miami

One for the (new) ages....

Showing what an equation-changer Thursday’s Game 2 was, Commissioner David Stern ran onto the floor afterward and embraced Dallas owner Mark Cuban.

“At last, I’m going to win a title!” Cuban said, with the usual optimism.

“At last, a monster Finals, even if I have to find more bad news to tell the union to make up for it,” said Stern, his mind racing ahead of the process as usual.

Actually, that didn’t happen, not that the quotes are far off.

Grinding struggle that Game 1 was, it got a 9.0 rating, better, noted SportsMediaWatch.com, than the opener of the 2010 Giants-Rangers World Series (8.9), the Kentucky Derby (8.5) and the Daytona 500 (8.7).

What awaits if the Finals stay competitive and the teams shoot over 40%, as in Game 2, the instant classic?

It’s the mother lode, with plot lines, superstars and NBA fans joining hands to root for the worst things imaginable to befall Miami’s superstars.

Bingo!

How about blowing a 15-point lead in the last 6:18 with the Heat about to go up, 2-0?

Because Miami was involved, there’s a story that goes with it.

If not, the press would create one, but this one dropped right in our laps, on deadline, as if from heaven.

Remember LeBron James’ self-immolating TV special, “The Narcissism Hour” — er, “The Decision?”

Remember the Heat’s “Meet the Big Three and Get a Jump on Next Spring’s Parade” welcome with fireworks, lasers and LeBron predicting eight titles?

Now it’s “The Celebration!”

The living legends did it again when Dwyane Wade’s three-pointer dropped, putting them up by 15 with 7:13 left.

Wade froze, right arm extended.

James came over, chest-bumped him, tapped him in the chest, then pretended to punch him over and over.

That’s when Jason Terry decided enough was enough, said Jason Terry.

Yeah, right.

That fired the Mavericks up?

The prospect of going down 0-2 wasn’t enough?

Of course, in our role as journalists, we couldn’t write it down fast enough or make more of it.

Let’s just say that by Sunday’s Game 3 in Dallas, there will be several words to avoid uttering around James and Wade, including “chest” and “bump.”

If Terry hasn’t noticed in 12 seasons, NBA players do little of note they don’t celebrate with primal screams, heads thrown back, chest pounding, etc. ... often as the play goes the other way.

Terry, a.k.a. “The Jet,” has his own trademark swoop around the floor with his arms out.

Try flying near the Miami bench from now on and see what happens.

Unfortunately for the Heat, which does get carried away with its greatness, it let the Mavericks believe, giving Terry a midrange jumper in transition and a breakaway with nobody back.

Next thing you knew, the heat was on and the Heat gagged.

Superstars or no superstars, it wouldn’t be good for Miami to lose Game 3, at which point the pressure would go from “major” to “crushing.”

Showing how special this season and this series is to the NBA, the same teams played in the 2006 Finals with almost as much drama but 1% of the buzz.

The 2006 Finals had marquee names — Shaquille O’Neal, Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Cuban — went six games with a dramatic turnaround as Miami came from 0-2 to win, 4-2, with a memorable Game 3 in which the Heat, about to go down, 3-0, came back from 13 down in the last 6:15.

It drew an 8.5 rating, then the third-lowest in prime time, showing how much buzz the NBA had lost.

A year later came the record low 6.2 rating for the Spurs’ sweep of Cleveland, when you could let James shoot over you and watch him make 36% in the series.

Even with the double-miracle gift of a Lakers-Celtics revival, it was a long way back for the Finals.

In 2008, the Celtics’ six-game win over the Lakers got a 9.3 rating.

In 2009, the Lakers’ five-game win over Orlando got an 8.4.

Boosted by a 15.7 rating for Game 7, last spring’s Lakers victory over the Celtics climbed to 10.6.

Then came the greatest or, at least, most profitable moment in NBA history — James announcing “I’m taking my talents to South Beach.”

Of course, if the Lakers were here (sob) — sorry, I know it’s a tender time in Lakerdom — the NBA would be looking at a real blockbuster.

Unfortunately, with what the Lakers are looking at (sob) — sorry! — who knows when they’ll be back?

Remember the Lakers’ relief when Miami took over as the marquee team at the middle of all the controversies?

Personally, I can’t wait for the ceremony retiring Shaq’s No. 34 in Staples Center.

Maybe by then he’ll be ready to put it on and come out of retirement!

mark.heisler@latimes.com