First point,Sammy. Dannie, I disagree when you say that we have a blindness towards Sam, I just feel we play better a lot when he isn’t out there and it is NOT his fault. In the last month he has done everything the coaches have asked down the offensive end, less shots, less bad decisions, and better screening. He just isn’t what this team needs at the 5. I believe he can be on a championship team if surrounded by shooters or a superstar that can get his own shot.

Elton, all the  “we can’t run with Elton” talk is bullshit I believe, the reason we have trouble adjusting to Elton is because we deferred too much to him and we are at our best without a singular low post player. Our top 4 players [A.Miller,Iggy,Thad and L.Will.] all play better 15 ft. and in and succeed better without a player clogging their workspace. Elton will work here I believe because he is better playing 10 to 15 ft. away from the basket, just like Thad is doing now.

Dannie, I kept saying Marreese was always getting open jumpers, I think with our team makeup opposing centers instinctly help and back off our centers. I think we have scored MORE low post area baskets since Elton has been hurt because our post player by committee [Thad,Iggy,A.Miller] is playing to our strength.

Dannie, every player since Dileo took over talks about defensive details being stressed in practice. I thought the L.Will. at the p.g. was the biggest issue for E.S. to find out but I think whether we can defend without Sammy or another shot blocker is the bigger point. A.Miller, Iggy, and Thad are VERY difficult to defend when 15 ft. from the basket if the opposing bigs can’t help, I think we are seeing that lately. When Elton comes back a Spieghts Elton tandem should be able to keep the opposing teams bigs from collapsing too much and if we can get a 5 that can consistently hit a jumper [Bonner type] and a 2 guard that plays Willie’s minutes [20 per game] that is a sniper, I really believe this team will take off.

Our strength is guys that can break their man down and until we put shooters at the 5 and 2 for at least 24 min. a night we aren’t capitalizing on our strengths.

Final point, defense. We need to reverse our thinking on our role players, instead of shooters as our role players we need defenders. Look at the Spurs, they look sluggish they go to K.Thomas, Bowen, Udoko, etc.. If our defense was a candle, Reggie would be a match. We have the pieces in place [Reggie,Theo and Royal ] are perfect. If our players are each MORE accountable defensively and it allows us to play shooters more minutes I believe we can win without a superstar because a superstars strength is creating something out of nothing and I believe L.Will.,Iggy,Thad and A.Miller are pretty good at that already. What do you guys think?

I think with the lack of expectation recently, if they actually have a couple more games like this I would be satisfied

From what I saw, Ratliff had a major impact on the defense.