I want to forget last night but a quick review is informative how one player can ruin your fortunes. I contend if we had Troy out there we win.
Watch how Jackson overruns the close out on Klay. This cost is the game. First, we get a bad bounce on the miss by KD. Willie boxes out but doesn't anticipate the rebound. Neither does Marvin. We have two guys on the weak side, the ball bounces to that side and we fail to get it! The odds of this are very slim. If we get the rebound and make our FTs we win. But it gets worse....
Okay, so if you are Jackson you are going to play up on Klay at the three. No doubt. But you have to chop your steps and be able to cut of or at least challenge on penetration. He does neither. Klay goes by him with very little effort. Jackson gets taken out of the play off one power dribble. This is trash defense. Jackson gives up too readily and ends up under the basket. Willie challenges Klay at the rim nicely. If you are Jackson and have already been beaten you have to get yourself in position to challenge from behind or rebound. Again he does neither. It is weak and pathetic. This weakness is also why Durant poured in a season high last night with many scores on Jackson. It was like taking candy from a baby.
Bagley was also slow to react on the first miss by Klay. But I give Bagley a bit of a pass because he garnered 17 rebounds. We need Willie to get the rebound, block a shot or Jackson to make a play. They failed us because this is who they are as defenders. It will not get appreciably better. Playing defense takes heart and grit and willingness to sacrifice your body. Jackson and Willie want nothing to do with this.
Now even with all this if Buddy goes in at a slightly different angle on the lefty flip, he gets the kiss off the window. If he leaves it a little softer off the rim for Bagley, he tips it in for the go ahead score. So close, yet so far! I anticipate the guys come out angry tonight to put this bitter defeat behind us and get back to our winning ways!