Tough start proved too much to overcome

Man, we smoked the Nets in the second half.  We just played so poorly in the first half and ultimately had way way way too many turnovers.  You would have thought we had Griese and Grossman out there playing if you glanced at the box score…the way we were turning the ball over.  Every lackadaisical pass did not stand a chance.  Kidd had 5 steals alone, plus a number of deflections as well.  One other thing that became evident: I don't think Kobe is really gonna help us if we have to give up 3 players.  Hinrich is really our only true point guard.  Having Kobe and Wallace and Duhon and Smith etc, we would be completely reliant on Kobe.  Especially now with Deng apparently on the trading block as well.  I'm with Rick Morrissey on this one.  Why don't we scope what we really need, a dominant inside scoring presence?  Once Gray and Noah get some minutes, and Tyrus and Smith settle down, maybe we'll have some of that.

Some thoughts from last nights game.

- Duhon played out of his mind.  That one gutsy fast break drive to the hole with the no backboard lay in was gritty and impressive.  He also knocked down a couple big shots.  If he can keep that up, he will be valuable.

- Hinrich ought to drive and kick a lot more.  He's good at beating his man, drawing a second defender, is a good passer, and can hit Gordon for a three or a cutting Deng.  He really should play more Nash-like.  We have plenty of players on the bench to relieve tired players.  He ought to get going on that.

- Speaking of Hinrich, he seriously got hosed by the refs.  I think there was just so much hype about Hinrich grabbing players' wrists from last year's games against D. Wade, that refs have become overly critical of his game.  I know it was Halloween, but he had too many "phantom" fouls called on him

- Nice to see the Bulls able to come back at least.

- Most of the team didn't disappoint or really get me excited either.  Kind of neutral on that.   We just really need to start the game out better.  We were out there playing catch up again. It seemed like we were not playing loose, and thus the first game does not worry me one bit.  I'm more worried about a potential trade in horizon.