Right state of mind for Game 5

If early indications mean anything, the Mavs are mentally in the right place going into a must-win Game 5.

“I like what I see,” Avery Johnson said today. “I like that they are disappointed in being in the position we’re in. I like the attitude that they came in with in our film session this morning and our breakfast meeting. I like the mood of where we are this morning.

“Guys are focused. They know where we are. We’re not ready for our season to come to an end. With that being said, hopefully you’ll see that in our performance.”

He hopes that focus doesn’t lead to playing tight.

“It’s a really highly concentrated atmosphere, but at the same time we don’t want it to get concentrated so much where guys can’t still get relaxed and play,” Johnson said. “There are no tricks or anything at this point. We just have to get out there and out-hustle our opponents, be mentally and physically tougher than they are for a long stretch of the game.”