Canberra basketballer Patrick Mills says the San Antonio Spurs are desperate to erase the pain of last year's NBA finals defeat, revealing their championship mission started before the team's first training session this season.
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Mills is on the cusp of realising a childhood dream of winning an NBA title, with the Spurs just one win away from defeating back-to-back champions Miami Heat.
Mills and fellow Australian Aron Baynes will become just the third and fourth Australians to win an NBA title if the Spurs beat the Heat in game five of the best-of-seven series on Monday Australian time in San Antonio.
The LeBron James-led Heat broke the Spurs' hearts last year when they came from behind to win the title in an enthralling seventh game.
Mills, 25, said the Spurs had harnessed the pain and transformed it into determination to end the Heat's domination.
"Focus is the word. We're determined. Coming into this year we were all on the same page with what we wanted to achieve," Mills said.
"We're in a position now where we have to make the most of the opportunity we're in. We're locked in and focused, not letting any other distractions get in the way of this.
"We're passionate and hungry to get back and do better in the finals. Before our first meeting of the year at training camp, the first time we saw each other, we all knew what we wanted before anyone started talking.
"Last year still hurts. But it has just fuelled the fire to do one better. I am playing hard and I feel like I'm better prepared."
The Spurs have dominated the Heat in the past two games in Miami, turning on a clinic to leave James and the star-studded roster helpless as San Antonio edged closer to its goal.
Mills played his role in helping shut down James at times, but said the Spurs needed to be better defensively to close out the series.
"I heard [teammates Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili] said that I was a pest. If that's what I am that's what I've got to be. If I'm not a pest I'm not doing my job. I have to be annoying and get guys out of their comfort zone."
Mills has increased his impact and is earning the tag of super sub to support future hall of famers Tim Duncan, Parker and Ginobili.
Mills played just 14 minutes in the entire finals series last year, which was prematurely ended by a foot injury.
But he already has amassed 58 minutes in four games this time, including a play-off career high of 14 points in the game-four triumph.
Most pundits believe it's a fait accompli that the Spurs will win. But not Mills. The former Marist College student is wary of a James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Ray Allen revival.
"It's a huge mental game now, there are distractions everywhere," Mills said.
"We have to stay hungry, there's a long way to go and we haven't done anything yet and we'll be playing [game five] like it's our last game. We have to be even better than our previous two games."
Mills, the highest point-scorer from the 2012 London Olympic Games, is a free agent at the end of the year and will be searching for a new deal.
But his only priority now is joining basketball greats Luc Longley and Andrew Gaze as the only Australians to be part of an NBA championship-winning team.
Mills' said the Spurs' unselfish play was the key to their success.
"If you try to play the champions [Heat] any other way, you won't win. We knew we had to get better at it this year and I think we've done that," Mills said.
Mills said he had a better understanding of his role in the Spurs' line-up this season.
"It's really sinking in. I've got to bring it every night and earn the right and trust from my coach and teammates to be able to make an impact on the game," Mills said.
NBA FINALS
Game five: San Antonio Spurs v Miami Heat at 10am (AEST). TV time: Live on ESPN. The Hellenic clubs in Civic and Woden will show game five live on big screens.
