It's win or go home for the Miami Heat. And, seemingly, this necessary mindset has helped dawn a brand-new mantra for the team as they prepare for what they hope to be a prosperous Play-In Tournament run. Simply, it's every game is Game 7.
Giving an inside look at the Heat's locker room after their regular-season finale, the team was rallying around this battle cry. That, from here on out, everything is Game 7.
And, assuming this is the way the Heat is going to approach things, that makes perfect sense.
The Heat need to get hot to make the NBA Playoffs
If they lose one more loss in their next two games, the team's season is over. As they head into the Play-In Tournament as the 10th seed, the Heat will not only need to win each of their next two games to clinch the 8th seed in the East playoff picture, but they'll have to do so while on the road.
Even if it may not matter much in the grand scheme, it does add a bit of difficulty to the Heat’s path. The Heat were just 17-24 on the road this season, so if the Heat are going to advance, they're likely going to have to get hot.
Considering that Miami has lost 10 of its last 15 games heading into the Play-In Tournament, it may be too much to ask. If there's any comfort that Heat fans should have heading into the Play-In Tournament, it's that they have had success against two of the three other teams in the tournament.
The Heat went a combined 5-2 against the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers this season. They didn't have any success against the Orlando Magic, in which they went 0-5 against them this year, but if Miami can avoid them, perhaps there is a realistic path for Miami to earn the 8th seed.
For now, all the focus for the Heat has to be on the Hornets. As their mantra suggests, that's all they can control now.
Get a win against the Hornets, and they'll have another Game 7. Even though this season didn't exactly go the way the team hoped it would, they have one last chance to change the narrative for the franchise heading into the offseason.
It won't be easy, and it's probably highly unlikely, but one thing that is certain is that it all begins with a Game 7. Against the Hornets.