Usually a team losing Game 1 has to make all the adjustments but the South East Melbourne Phoenix did a lot of what coach Josh King asks and just didn’t make shots as they return home for a do-or-die Game 2.
Prior to Game 1 in Adelaide against the 36ers, if you'd told King that the Phoenix would have attempted 13 extra shots and four more free throws, had pulled down 21 offensive rebounds, and committed just six turnovers, he would have been a happy man.
He would have been just about convinced South East Melbourne were heading home to John Cain Arena on Saturday with the chance to make history by winning their way into a first ever NBL Championship Series.
They did most things that usually lead to good things for them, but a couple of things let them down. The first was they weren’t able to pressure the 36ers into turnovers with the winners only coughing it up nine times over 40 minutes.
Then the Phoenix just couldn’t get their shooting going. They ended up going 40 per cent from the field while more than half of their shots were from behind the three-point arc where they made 12/43 at 28 per cent.
Reflecting straight after the 104-97 loss that leaves the Phoenix needing to win on Saturday to stay alive, King was largely happy with how his team played but some of the shots they did take might not have been as good as he'd usually like.
"That's kinda what we do, we play fast and we chase after the ball and do a really good job of that, but I'd like some more to drop so you don't have so many opportunities to get offensive rebounds," King said.
"I'll have to go back and watch and see where you can be better, but I think some of our shot selection was a little bit tough just to the naked and these are always hard when I'm trying to replay the game back while trying to answer questions.
"I thought some of our shot selection wasn’t as good, but I thought we also had some ones go in and out that were good looks, and I thought it was a pretty good, well played game.
"Bryce had a great game for them, they had some guys step up and make some big plays late, but I can't say we didn't really follow the game plan.
"If you'd have told me before the game we were going to have 21 offensive rebounds I'd tell you we'd have a pretty good chance to win the game."
There was also some concern late in the game when reigning Damian Martin Trophy winner John Brown III appeared to hurt an ankle after a game where he had another five offensive rebounds.
King didn't have an update when he spoke post-match, but would be mightily surprised if it was anything to worry about.
"I haven’t asked our medical staff yet and I'm not sure if it was frustration or what, but I don't know and we'll see," King said.
"The way I looked at it and I have no idea, I'd tell you if I knew, but I hope it was just out of frustration and the game was kinda over now and I think he slipped on the floor so I hope he's ok.
"We obviously need him as a All-First Team player but I can't tell you right now although if he's able to play, I'm sure he's going to play and hopefully he's OK."
The message is simple now for King heading into Saturday's Game 2 on their home floor and he wants them to continue to do what's got them to this point, and back in the way they play.
In turn, he'll be hoping they can make Bryce Cotton's night tougher than the 42 points he scored on 25 shots in Game 1.
On top of that, they will attempt to pressure them better, and then do all the things they did well while looking to take better shots to knock more of them down.
"We've got to protect home court and we get an opportunity to play in front of our fans who have been great all year long so we should have a good crowd there and I know our fans will be there," King said.
"It's a do-or-die game for us, though, and it's a three-game series so it's not a very long series and if you lose Game 2 the series is over.
"I know our guys will up for the challenge and we just have to be a little bit better.
"This is why we do this and it's why you work hard all year long to put yourself in a position to do this, and we're going to do our best to be back here same time, same place one week from right now and hopefully for us it's a different result."