What this teams needs

Last night I was able to watch part of the game against the Blazers, and I came to a few conclusions that I'm wondering if anyone else came to. Please weigh in with your thoughts, opinions, observations, and frustrations. I think we as fans, as well as this team, need to hit rock bottom before we'll turn the corner.

My three observations after the jump.

First, why we're getting beat. On paper and on the court this team is getting beat because teams are out-executing us and out-talenting us. I'm not sure if I completely buy that. Yes, we have some talent deficiencies and yes, our guys are still learning offensive and defensive schemes. But this team has also built double digit leads against just about every team we've played so far, and came this close to beating Boston. I think, more than talent and scheme, the Twolves are on the wrong side of the confidence spectrum. The last few games our confidence has sucked, and the other team's confidence has soared to the point that I saw LMA attempt to drive to the basket and throw up a duck and it goes in. I saw Oden look like the second coming of Shaq throwing down dunks. I saw Pryz look like Camby blocking shots. I've seen guys who appear to take threes with a "what the hell, why not?" look on their face because, lo and behold, they all go in! Our guys don't believe their shots will fall, and the other team does.

Second, competitive fire. One thing I love seeing is how much some of the guys are talking to each other. Many times last night it looked like our hometown squad was learning how to play basketball for the first time, and guys were trying to coordinate roles and assignments on offense and defense. I love it. Certainly beats the alternative. However, is it just me or does it look like the fringe players want it more than the starters? Maybe it's just the portions I saw, but guys like Jawai and Hollins-despite their mistakes and lack of experience-play like it's all on the line. Brewer obviously does. But maybe this is where Rambis is talking about a lack of veteran leadership. Where is Al? Where is Gomes? Where is the guy, besides Brewer, who is going out there (especially on defense where I think a lot of the tone of this team actually gets set as the cutting and movement of the triangle doesn't lend itself to a 'daggering' offensive identity from one player, at least not yet), and giving it his all every minute he plays? Sometimes you're going to get blown out and your team defense is going to be dysfunctional, but I know for me, when I play, at some point I get mad and make the commitment to myself that I'm tired of getting beat, and I'm going to out hustle and out work whoever I'm guarding, even if they're bigger, stronger, or faster than me. This brings me to my last observation.

Heart. I was pleased to read Al's comments this morning. Suggests to me that the players are buying into Rambis' system and understand that this is a process to make them all better basketball players. If this approach works, I think once the light goes on it will be sustainable, not just a January flash in the pan. But the only way to get there from here is to work through these dark periods. Do these players have it in them? I guess what I'm saying, and I'm hoping part of what we're seeing is Rambis giving them the opportunity to really learn this lesson (among a number of lessons), is at the end of the day is someone going to stand up and play like it's playground ball again and refuse to let the Oden's and whoever else's of the NBA dunk on them with sh*t eating grins on their faces every time? I remember loving to watch Terry Porter play for us because he'd get the scowl on his face and get mean sometimes when he understood that either the other team is punching you and either you punch back or you roll over. I'm not condoning violence or stupidity on the court, but the value of some technicals because of hard defense might go a long way towards reminding our squad who they are, because I don't buy that all of these guys are as bad as they look.

If I had to break these three components of losing down, I'd say that around 50-60% is confidence (both for us and the other team's when facing us), with the rest equally split between the other two, with maybe a slight edge given to heart. Hopefully Love's return will inject this team with some much needed attitude and grittiness. Brewer's on an island out there. Al needs to learn to take himself out for the betterment of the team when he's getting physically beat out there. Flynn and Ramon need to learn to take control a bit more, that they are the leaders as well as facilitators. All of our guys need to start hanging out with Laimbeer in hopes that a bit of his aura rubs off on them.

What do y'all think? A fair assessment? I want to know what other people are seeing, beyond just the X's and O's, when they watch this team.