If we don't go 2-1 the next three games...

[MBunge]

Losing to Atlanta won't be bad, even though they're not an elite team.  If we can't beat Detroit and the Lakers, two teams that are even worse than us, then we will need to stop talking about we just need a big or we just need a closer.  If we can't beat them, it will mean that all these competitive losses, for at least 3 quarters, are a mirage.

Mike

[KeepRondo]

Losing to Atlanta won't be bad, even though they're not an elite team.  If we can't beat Detroit and the Lakers, two teams that are even worse than us, then we will need to stop talking about we just need a big or we just need a closer.  If we can't beat them, it will mean that all these competitive losses, for at least 3 quarters, are a mirage.

Mike

Huh? So getting an elite defensive center won't make us a playoff team if we lose 2 out of the next 3 games?

[rondohondo]

Losing to Atlanta won't be bad, even though they're not an elite team.  If we can't beat Detroit and the Lakers, two teams that are even worse than us, then we will need to stop talking about we just need a big or we just need a closer.  If we can't beat them, it will mean that all these competitive losses, for at least 3 quarters, are a mirage.

Mike

We aren't beating detroit. Drummond will destroy our centers on lobs . I think we match up better with atl and LA

[Nerf DPOY]

I don't know about the next three games, but I think the month of December may serve as a litmus test for where this team stands.

[GreenWarrior]

this team is structurally unsound. I just hope it's on purpose and not because we think "we're close".

[greece66]

this team is structurally unsound. I just hope it's on purpose and not because we think "we're close".

Precisely. If the front office believed this team would be a playoff contender then we need a different front office.
But they had a playoff contender in their hands before doomsday, so the chances are it's on purpose.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Losing to Atlanta won't be bad, even though they're not an elite team.  If we can't beat Detroit and the Lakers, two teams that are even worse than us, then we will need to stop talking about we just need a big or we just need a closer.  If we can't beat them, it will mean that all these competitive losses, for at least 3 quarters, are a mirage.

Mike

Huh? So getting an elite defensive center won't make us a playoff team if we lose 2 out of the next 3 games?

His point is this team is worthless and not worth adding pieces to if they can't beat DET & LAL. I think.

[Who]

I see Detroit more as a "50-50" game than a "should win".

Detroit have gotten off to a bad start this year but they have some talent. They should be doing better and I expect them to improve and do better as the season continues.

[D.o.s.]

If we lose to Detroit and the Lakers, how are we better than them?

[KeepRondo]

Losing to Atlanta won't be bad, even though they're not an elite team.  If we can't beat Detroit and the Lakers, two teams that are even worse than us, then we will need to stop talking about we just need a big or we just need a closer.  If we can't beat them, it will mean that all these competitive losses, for at least 3 quarters, are a mirage.

Mike

Huh? So getting an elite defensive center won't make us a playoff team if we lose 2 out of the next 3 games?

His point is this team is worthless and not worth adding pieces to if they can't beat DET & LAL. I think.

Seems kind of silly to me to come to a conclusion over one loss.

[Nerf DPOY]

If we lose to Detroit and the Lakers, how are we better than them?

I took it to mean worse record currently.

[gpap]

Hey, at least on this date 30 years ago, Larry Bird did something cool.

[Chris22]

If we lose to Detroit and the Lakers, how are we better than them?

By the power of inverse thinking...

[MBunge]

Losing to Atlanta won't be bad, even though they're not an elite team.  If we can't beat Detroit and the Lakers, two teams that are even worse than us, then we will need to stop talking about we just need a big or we just need a closer.  If we can't beat them, it will mean that all these competitive losses, for at least 3 quarters, are a mirage.

Mike

Huh? So getting an elite defensive center won't make us a playoff team if we lose 2 out of the next 3 games?

His point is this team is worthless and not worth adding pieces to if they can't beat DET & LAL. I think.

Seems kind of silly to me to come to a conclusion over one loss.

The point is in what Stevens said after the game.  He referred to the team "not playing the right way" for 48 minutes and that's why they keep losing.  Well, the Lakers and the Pistons sure as heck don't "play the right way" either.

Another way of putting it is this.  Are we playing above or below our talent level?  Most people seem to think that when the team looks so good and then loses in the 4th over and over again that it is the former.  But the Pistons are clearly playing below their talent level and I think LA pretty clearly has less talent than Boston, and their coach plain old sucks.  Losses to them would indicate, especially if the losses follow our familiar pattern, that we might actually be playing below our talent level.

Or to put it another way, all the time we look good against good teams will be meaningless if we can't beat bad teams.

Mike

[guava_wrench]

Losing to Atlanta won't be bad, even though they're not an elite team.  If we can't beat Detroit and the Lakers, two teams that are even worse than us, then we will need to stop talking about we just need a big or we just need a closer.  If we can't beat them, it will mean that all these competitive losses, for at least 3 quarters, are a mirage.

Mike

Huh? So getting an elite defensive center won't make us a playoff team if we lose 2 out of the next 3 games?

Like DeAndre Jordan? Won't help much.

Unless you are talking about Marc Gasol. But what is the point of talking about that?