[duke dynamite watched the tough loss last night and looks for a glimmer of hope amongst the tragic late game collaspes. Thanks, duke! - CR]

I was going to wait until after the Houston game to write this out, but I had to do it.

Believe it or not, there is a gleam of light in this darkness we call a 3-game losing streak. This gleam is known as Brandon Rush. Rush has shown us his career-best in the past two games, with the potential of making it three in a row tonight. Brandon has just come out of nowhere and really has lit it up offensively. Now if only we could get Hibbert more minutes.

As I stated earlier last week, too many people have written off Troy Murphy. Stop! He has put up some good numbers so far and only think he'll get better. I understand, but he is not the only player fading in the second half. I blame everyone.

We are getting some great looks at shots in the second half, but nothing seems to want to fall. In that, I say we need to drive to the basket more. I know that Jim O'Brien loves the long-range ball, but it never works. You need to adjust your strategy based on many factors:

• opposing defense strength
• size and speed of defense
• team 2nd half FG % efficiency (us=bad)
• ...and more

I can go all Norman Dale all day long, this team just lacks fundamentals. I agree with the coach's philosophy of passing the ball, but you can't have a team that can't pass...well, pass. If anyone has noticed we have committed more turnovers by bad passes or deflections than anything else. (I don't have the stats, I call it like I see it.)

Coach O'Brien I think cannot work with just a three point offense like he has until Dunleavy comes back, if he comes back. I'm starting the get the "Colts" feeling with the whole Mike's knee situation. What are they not telling us, if they are not telling us everything?

Best-case scenario, I have a feeling that we are not going to succeed much more outside of the development of this team unless we do something about the way our offense is run. I don't know what it is, maybe teams have picked up on what we do, and just let us coast in the first half then slaughter us in the second. I don't believe that. Call me in denial.

I hate to just rag on a "developing" team. It seems to many like my expectations are high, but I'm like every sports fan and wants their team to win.

There has to be a silver lining here. I just hope that I see it soon.