Since Friday night’s win in Boston to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals, the energy around the Miami Heat shifted ever so slightly. They knew they had the Celtics, the no. 2 seed in the East and defending conference champions, on the ropes as the series went to Miami. Sunday night’s game wasn’t a must-win, but the Heat didn’t get this far — so improbably — by resting on laurels or taking wins for granted.
So in the days, hours and minutes leading up to Sunday’s Game 3 tip-off, coaches and players were… what’s the best word?