It's the second round of the playoffs and the series is tied 1-to-1. You're in your home gym in front of a sellout crowd and a national television audience and you come out so flat and with little effort that your coach has to call a time out 43 seconds into the game to remind you of the seriousness of the game. I just don't get how a team can make it to the second road of the playoffs, steal home court advantage from the number one seed and still lack motivation.
On a positive note, point guard Jeff Teague continues to make a case for why he should get increased playing time next season. Teague showed great recognition of defensive switches and got the ball to the mismatch. I like the fact that he aggressively attacked the basket, delivering a strong layup or floater, and did not settle for jump shots, like Joe Johnson and Jamaal Crawford. Teague was definitely our player of the game for the first half and finished with 21 points.
Josh Smith was our second half player of the game. He started playing the brand of basketball he's built to play - banging inside the paint and slashing to the basket. He challenged shots, grabbed rebounds, and limited the number of boneheaded outside jump shots. He finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks.
Where were Joe Johnson, Jamaal Crawford, Marvin Williams, and Al Holford last night? They may have been on the court but they weren't factors.
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