Folks are getting way too down after this one. It was a let-up game after a 2OT game against the Knicks where 4 players played huge minutes (45mins). It happens.
Agree we can’t project this game forward in a straight line; they had a let-down and also they may need time to learn the new system. That’s my hopeful case: they just need to grow into new roles. A couple years ago when Tatum started learning to get to the basket the results were just plain awful for about half a season; he had one of the lowest conversion rates in the league. Then the light went on and he got a whole lot better. It wouldn’t have taken much more to bet the Knicks in msg, so based on that game we aren’t so bad.
That said, a much worse outcome is possible, too. And while I don’t take it as given they’re going to fall apart, the last two games haven’t been great. The lack of composure when they got challenged, and then the way they lost the will to fight was not encouraging. Also, if we are going to start Al and Rob - a lineup that I believe can work for the starters - the lack of an even halfway decent backup at the 4 or the 5 is a serious problem that I think is going to be hard to solve. I hear people asking for Kanter, and I see why people are ready for any alternative, but he really really is not good. We got nothing on the bench.