we’re going to lose. It’s that simple. When we’ve been at our best this season, Dirk’s been rebounding and triggering fast breaks to a streaking Terry. I just don’t see Avery letting Terry take off down the court without Kidd in at point. Would you trust J.J. to take the reigns? Tyronn Lue if he’s healthy? Kidd was terrible, but he’s also our best chance to turn this series around — if he plays like he did in triple double #100, we’re a great team. Sadly, I really don’t see that happening.

This is essentially the same team we went to the finals with. The exceptions being Jason Kidd and no real big man to back up Dampier. Any leadership we lost we should have replaced but we look terrible. Avery, for all his flaws was out manuevering Scott last night until Dampier and Jet had to go the bench with 2 fouls each and we had no suitable replacements. While JK has not been an all-star he certainly can’t be held completely responsible. We play our best ball when he is in the game, or at least we look more fluid.

The big difference is Howard. When he was an all-star he scored 15+ points a game without plays being run for him. He crashed the boards, he moved w/o the ball and was always around the rim. Now we run plays for him and he quit doing the very things that made him an all-star. He added things to his game which should make him a better player (better outside shooting…) and compliment what he did so well. Instead he has completely abandoned what made him and by proxy us a better team. The falls on him and Avery. But I still see this as the big difference.

Unfortunately we would be hard pressed to 60 cents on the dollar for Josh now after this season and playoffs. Even when he scored so much in Dirk’s abscence he did it by volume shooting as opposed to the way he did it in the past. 3-16 nights have become the norm instead of the exception. And he has single handedly shot us out of games repeatedly.

Oh well, at least we have Bass. I hope he does not make and All-star game and forget how to dunk.