This is a bad patch for the team.

Delfino made a very bad play. Rip hit two key free throws but he also got stripped going one on one late. But these are small matters.

Here is what really bothers me:

1) We just got out played again by Indiana. We truly miss Ben against this team and we have to prove that we can beat them without Ben. Of course, Sheed was basically out which helped them. They controlled the game at key points just as we usually control the game. We were problably tired from the Knick game. Still, they took the game at the crucial times like a team is suppose to and held on.

2) How shortsided was it to play our key guys so many minutes in that meaningless Knick game and not have them ready for the Pacers and now the Suns.

3) The Chauncey injury sure looks like it might be based on too many minutes in a short span...

4) Was that a little bit of playoff fold in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and the inability of the coach to reverse his team? This felt too much like last year. We did come back though.

5) We are just not intense like the Spurs and Suns to name two top teams. We get the lead and float and then we start to press, go one on one and it just gets worse. Sometimes we don't play with the proper amount of fear...


Positives:

Davis defense, Maxiell's play and jumper. Our best team late against many teams may be Prince, Sheed and Maxiell on the front line. Maxiell's development may be the key to the season.