Heat center Jermaine O'Neal has stepped up his play in the postseason, especially the last two games, and has become a very important player for Miami.
"He's definitely the X-factor for the Miami Heat," Hawks forward Josh Smith said Sunday. "If he keeps playing the way he's playing, it's going to be tough to beat them."
O'Neal has averaged 20.5 points and 8 rebounds in the last two games of the series, both Miami wins.
"I'm a very emotional player," O'Neal said. "That's always kind of been my calling card since I was in Indiana. I was a guy really able to get in a rhythm and really build off the emotions of the crowd and the emotions of myself."
O'Neal should continue to be an important player for the Heat, as his coach has acknowledged his resurgence.
"He's seizing the opportunity right now ... really stepping up to the challenge," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.