Things I would tell the team before the game, if I am coach:

[Whacked]

Punch them in the mouth and establish we are the big dawg now.
We are inarguably the better team and baffle been for a bit.
ACT LIKE IT and dominate. Quit playing scared.

This team needs to come out of the tunnel ready and not wait for Q3
as they do at times. Drives me nuts.