Dead on TaShawn. I know I know, they won't beat "x," "y," or "z" playing the way they played (for most, but not all of) the last nine quarters. But I'll repeat, at the risk of being obnoxious, that if this team has shown anything in the past three seasons it is that they meet challenges when they perceive them. Of course, we aren't the ones that get to decide what they will perceive as a challenge. Nor do I think, based on past experience, that their comments to the media are an accurate indicator of whether or not they are perceiving a challenge. Maybe they will see Game 5 as a challenge and do their thing and maybe they'll need to go down 3-2 before their challenge indicator lights go on.

Whatever the case, I certainly feel completely confident that when they perceive it, they will meet it. That is what has won my heart to this team: that for all their flailing and maddening underachieving, they can be counted on to bring it when they feel their backs are against the wall. Sometimes, that's not until they are on the brink of elimination (Orlando, New Jersey, Miami), sometimes they feel the wall at their backs earlier than that. But always, at that point, win or lose, we'll see this team's best effort. And that's all I need from them to avoid disappointment and a feeling of bitterness: give me your best effort when the sh*t is on the line. They've always done it and I'm sure they'll do that again.