Under Spoelstra's endless pep talks, a spark gradually returned to the players' eyes.
When the break ended and they returned to the court, every player was fired up.
Zion kept high-fiving his teammates, encouraging them:
"We have to hold on through the first half!"
Wazi and Booker also encouraged their teammates:
"The coach has a way to deal with Wang Yi in the second half. All we have to do is hold on through the first half—or, to be exact, just another 23 and a half minutes!"
"Surely we can last another 23 and a half minutes!"
"We can!"
The players shouted in unison.
They were like men who had just wilted, then perked right back up after taking some sort of wonder drug. Their fighting spirit was surging again.
The cameras caught the scene and showed it on the arena's giant screen, reassuring countless Heat fans.
"I was really worried they wouldn't be able to handle those two dunks by Wang Yi."
"Yeah. If Wang Yi's two dunks had broken them in the first quarter, what would there be left to watch? They'd have no chance."
"Go, Heat! Heat for the championship!"
Soon, the referee urged both teams back onto the court.
As the players headed out, an assistant coach asked Spoelstra from the Heat's sideline resting area:
"Spo, you said you had a way to deal with Wang Yi in the second half. Could you give me a little hint? I've never heard you mention anything like that."
Spoelstra smiled mysteriously.
"You'll find out in the second half—assuming they can hold on through the first."
The assistant coach shook his head helplessly.
Spoelstra had always liked to be mysterious, but he usually kept things from the players, not from his assistant coaches.
He hadn't expected Spoelstra to keep