GT: Hornets @ Pistons Thu Jan 5 7:30PM EST

[Mystical Apples]

Disclaimer: I know Hawes was integral in that late 4th quarter comeback, but he was also pretty much solely the reason we were in that big hole to begin with because he got so thoroughly destroyed by Boban, who he made look like the Laker version of Wilt Chamberlain out there.

In the moment it was 1/2 frustrating and 1/2 feeling bad for Spencer knowing it wasn't an effort issue. After a while yelling GRAB IT isn't gonna cut it.

In those situations CHA could really use a defensive C or better perimeter resistance so CHA's center doesn't need to help (preferably both). Boban was a problem, Harris' strength was a problem, and so were forced rotations from guards getting into the lane.

Bogut comes to mind. As do PJ Tucker, Withey, and Thabo.

[catch20two]

Sucks that the refs called that soft foul at the end after we did so much fighting to get back in that game.

[Mystical Apples]

We're approaching the same time last year when I felt Clifford started nudging Cho a tad through the media (and certain players). Maybe around the Denver game during the long road trip and culminating in early February with the cluster dumpster fire against Miami.

Clifford doesn't always explicating say it but combining his lineup patterns + how he redirects questions you can deduce what he really means/wants. I don't follow CHA media or listen to local Pods but I'm gonna guess their main talking points surround super manly inside 4/5 stuff. Which, they'd have a point, but that's not Clifford's focus here.

His response to a direct question from Stephanie about solving Detroit's inside presence of Boban and Drummond:

Well, they were a big part of it and then it was obviously Harris and Morris particulalry when we broke the lineups. You know when Mike or Nic weren't in the game we really struggled at those defensive positions.

When asked about his takeaways Clifford circled back with:

We fought hard last night (meaning OKC) and played a really good game. You know, the bottom line is if we want to be the team I think we can be you gotta win tonight so that's what it is. It's just, you know, we aren't to me where we need to be. This is a tough place to play but you have to win the game. And again, we had very little defensive readiness to start and we gotta get better bench play.

[Liver_Pooty]

Sucks that the refs called that soft foul at the end after we did so much fighting to get back in that game.

That's a no call for 3/4 of the other teams in the league

[fatlever]

We're approaching the same time last year when I felt Clifford started nudging Cho a tad through the media (and certain players). Maybe around the Denver game during the long road trip and culminating in early February with the cluster dumpster fire against Miami.

Clifford doesn't always explicating say it but combining his lineup patterns + how he redirects questions you can deduce what he really means/wants. I don't follow CHA media or listen to local Pods but I'm gonna guess their main talking points surround super manly inside 4/5 stuff. Which, they'd have a point, but that's not Clifford's focus here.

His response to a direct question from Stephanie about solving Detroit's inside presence of Boban and Drummond:

Well, they were a big part of it and then it was obviously Harris and Morris particulalry when we broke the lineups. You know when Mike or Nic weren't in the game we really struggled at those defensive positions.

When asked about his takeaways Clifford circled back with:

We fought hard last night (meaning OKC) and played a really good game. You know, the bottom line is if we want to be the team I think we can be you gotta win tonight so that's what it is. It's just, you know, we aren't to me where we need to be. This is a tough place to play but you have to win the game. And again, we had very little defensive readiness to start and we gotta get better bench play.

You've mentioned this before, but I think having another tough, physical 3/4 hybrid would do wonders for the bench.

Also, like you said, Hawes getting abused by Boban, was a lack of effort thing, just an awful matchup, highlighting some of the deficiencies we have at that backup center position as well as the bench as a whole. (It didn't make me any less annoyed with Hawes in the moment) Notice how when MKG came back in the game in the 2nd Q those offensive rebounds dried up quickly as MKG was boarding everything. We need more guys who can rebound in traffic, not just steal defensive rebounds when nobody is around. We need more guys who don't get bullied on both ends.