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Heat players were given a dramatic, almost militaristic framework for the job that faced them Wednesday, with allusions to displays of power and defending home turf.
“It’s about coming out with our most overwhelming effort and force of the series here in front of our home fans,” coach Erik Spoelstra told his guys.
Overwhelming. Force. These are not standard words from a coach more analytical than emotional. Clearly, Miami was looking for something definitive in this first-round playoff series Game 5 here vs. the New York Knicks — a statement game.
What they got was close enough.
It was close enough on a night when anything less would have replaced any statement with only questions.
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