I’m as upset as anyone that we let an 18-point lead get away from us on Sunday and lost Game 1 to Philly. We normally don’t do that sort of thing and have been really good this season at closing teams out, but we let the Sixers get the momentum in the fourth quarter and we just couldn’t stop them.

I felt going into the game that everyone was ready to play. I think we kind of got worried about the offensive side too much. We knew we could score, but we have to stop the other team if we want to win. Philly can put up good numbers. They shot the ball well and Donyell Marshall played 25 games all season and he hit some big threes. We can’t let a team keep their confidence going.

When we come out in the next game on Wednesday, we have to let those guys know that we’re going to dominate from the tip.

Our effort has to be better, especially on the defensive end. Our defensive effort, as a whole, wasn’t there. There were a lot of the plays that gave Philly momentum and those six or seven points throughout could win a game or a series. For Game 2, we have to have a better effort on the defensive end and everyone has to know what certain players do.

There’s no need to panic. It’s just the first game. But we do need to come out with a better effort on the defensive end. We have to get back on defense and cut our turnovers down because Phi lly loves to run. And we have to keep both Andres out of the paint.

We’ll be much better in Game 2, trust me. And we won’t be letting another 18-point lead slip away.

CHILL. – DWIGHT