Quote:
Originally Posted by Silock
Guys . . . I'm really ****ing depressed right now.
I get it intellectually. We were without Embiid and we aren't good without him.
But ****. We didn't show any fire or heart. All of the teams we just saw play played with PASSION.
We need a goddamned leader on the court.
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They didn't show that competitive desire to be great all season. They just expected their talent to carry them (and for the most part, with Embiid, it did). That's also part of the reason I was over that loss shortly after it happened, though. It wasn't a Self team like most of others, it was something quite different (and in fact, statistically, it was his worst since '05).
But yes, I agree, I think some of that came down to leadership. None of the team's core players (Wiggins, Ellis, Tharpe, Embiid) were really built that way. And while I know you hate him, but somebody like Marcus Smart with his fire would have done wonders for this particular group. Even 2012 Tyshawn would have been great.
Not even getting into their defensive issues, it's a bit disconcerting that Tharpe/Ellis are set to be core players again next year for this reason too. I only hope guys like Mason, Cliff, and Oubre can help bring what those two are lacking in 2014-2015.