It was business as usual at the Sixers practice facility on Friday afternoon. Film was studied, shots were put up, and in the case of Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand, extra shots were taken when everyone else had left the gym.
Game 7 is new territory for the bulk of this young roster. However, Brand did play in a Game 7 when he was a member of the Clippers. Unfortunately, for him it was a lopsided loss on the Phoenix Suns home floor.
Brand vividly remembers the emotions as the opening tip approached in that matchup.
"It is not a different feeling until you get there," Brand said. "That crowd is raucous. It's exciting and you can barely breathe in that moment, but we will be prepared for it."
Doug Collins encourages players to have that "can't-catch-your-breath" initial feeling. It comes with the territory and is usually an indication you are in the moment.
"Nerves are good. You better have the butterflies," Collins explained. "It is like broadcasting. When you tape something and you know you can do it over, it isn't good.
"See that red light right there," Collins continued, pointing to a camera that was recording his interview. "That is live and if your stomach isn't twiddling a little bit, then hand the microphone to someone else. You can tell live versus tape in the announcers. You can here the edge in their voice. Tomorrow is live."
On display during that live action will be contrasting rosters, mainly featuring experience against youth. We know there is no substitute for the Celtics experience, but youth has a chance of trumping that if channeled properly.
"I think youth is good in a lot of ways. Energy, I don't think young people fear, Collins said. I have been around long enough to feel that. I told our guys, Let's go in there and from the start of the game, just be who we have been and play our best game and see what happens."
Jrue Holiday, who is symbolic of the Sixers youthfulness at 21 years old, was in attack mode from start to finish in Game 6. He led the Sixers in scoring with 20 points. Prior to that elimination game, Holiday had called the task at hand "the end of the world".
So what is Saturday's game?
"End of the world two," Holiday said, without missing a beat.
For the soft-spoken point guard, the quick wit was a little surprising. After the assembled media got a good laugh, Holiday made it clear that the Sixers are on a mission.
"It came to Game 7 for a reason. We have done things that we have known to do and it worked, and that's why we are in Game 7," Holiday said. "We just have to be ready for anything. We want this. This is what we worked for. I think every team kind of goes through roller coaster rides, but we are playing well right now and we really want this."
Holiday will be conscious of being aggressive throughout the 48 minutes of Game 7. The point guard admits there are times he has a tendency to be passive, but he knows Saturday his team can ill afford for him to hit such a lull.
Meanwhile, Brand, who has come to life the past two games with 19 points in Game 5 and a double-double in Game 6, is relishing this opportunity.
"It is a huge moment for me, a chance to go to the Eastern Conference Finals with just one win, Brand said. The Eastern Conference Finals is a big stage. It would show all the hard work we have done as a team and if we play well, we think we can get there."
The fearless Sixers have no intention of changing their mentality just because Saturday's stage is greater. This team has earned the right to be in a situation in which a win puts it into the NBA's final four.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.