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- Apr 2, 2004
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I'm not too far away from this but I will say for a lot of players there's a fine line between not giving effort and not executing - for example, settling for a shot when they could work a little harder to get a better shot, fighting for position and so on can easily look like poor execution.I usually feel it's the execution, not the effort. In the first half we will have guys taking shots they shouldn't, making passes that are way too cute and stuff like McGee trying to lead a break or Elfrid Payton being on the court for more than a few minutes. In the 2nd half they tend to clean up what plagued them in the first, they play sharper, they adjust their defensive rotations and grind teams down.
I am in the "not worried" group. Sure, I'd be happy if we were heading into the playoffs with 68 wins, but this team didn't really taper off until that long winning streak ended AND we'd locked up everything. I am far more happy they we're entering the playoffs with everyone in good physical shape (assuming Cam Payne's knee thing was an abundance of precaution).
These guys take losing personal, I really doubt that a couple weeks of basically exhibition basketball has tempered their edge.
I love the fact that this team seems to really value each possession in crunch time, I'd just like to see them do it more in the first half.