New Orleans can play comfortably in various tempos (of course having CP3 helps), whereas we're really only comfortable when we're getting out in transition. We're a great running team, and that's fine, but relying on it being there for us every night has been a detriment. I'm not even saying that we should have won that game because I think New Orleans is the superior team, but when they brought the pace back to their advantage we couldn't find any inroads to eat away at the deficit, and if we did, Paul would find an open outside shooter to keep us at arms length. This team needs shooters like GM needs bailout dollars, and right now it feels like nothing short of an Elton Brand 2010 M.I.P. award is going to free us from our half court woes. Regardless, I agree w/ the general consensus here in that a shake up to the lineup is probably in order.
The two teams practically shot identically, but they had the advantage on the glass (17 offensive pulls), and our bench came out flat shooting a combined 22%. In fact, our nicest stat off the bench came from Reggie Evans (0-0 FGA's). Did anyone see that shot of Sammy just sitting on the bench with his head down in the 4th? David West exposed every average bone in his body early on.
