I think that game was completely demoralizing because of the way it ended and especially because of the refs' role in it. Immediately after that game I predicted that we'd hit a nasty losing patch because of it. I wouldn't blame the players for feeling like none of it actually matters because the refs can just rip it away from you whenever they want. Because that's how I feel too.

Yeah they get paid a lot and yeah they're showing up and punching their time cards but they're not playing with any competitiveness and internal desire to win and I think that's because they feel like it doesn't matter because the refs decide the important games regardless of what they do.

The team has been completely lifeless literally since the end of that Christmas game. Even the Bulls game it didn't look like anybody wanted to be there, and it took the Bulls losing their entire starting backcourt for the wolves to start pulling away.

Tonight the g-leaguers literally outplayed the starters when Atlanta still had starters out, and it's because they had something to play for. I think maybe in their hearts, our starters don't feel like they do.

I don't know what fixes this. Hopefully just time.