Ben Gordon "Where Still in It" <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGR]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/gordon_060308.jpg[/IMGR]This time of year, there?s one thing on everyone?s mind, and that?s making the playoffs. Our win over the Nets pushed us to within two and a half games of the eighth spot, currently held by the Bucks. Beating New Jersey was big for us?they?re a divisional leader and they are going to be a playoff team. Ben Gordon There are just over twenty games to go, and we?re still hopeful that we?re going to make it. We need to get hot and put together a winning streak for that to happen. That?s our main concern right now. In the past couple of weeks, we?d get a win but then we?d drop a game or even two in a row. Getting a few wins in a row and building up some momentum would be huge over this last month or two of the season. It seems like we?ve been in so many games this season, but unable to hold on for the win. I really can?t explain it. Last season, as a team, it just seemed that we were able to come up with stops late in the game when we needed them the most. It felt like we could get five or six defensive stops in a row and then go down on the other end and convert on offense. For whatever reason, we can?t seem to do that as well this year and either our lead slips away or we are unable to come back when we?re down. It?s extremely frustrating not to win close games, but that?s been the difference between this season and last. Our mindset and focus has been consistent through it all, though. We just aren?t having success in having some of the things we do in practice transfer over to games. We go out there and play hard every night, but like I said, we haven?t been able to make some of those key plays down the stretch that may decide a game. That?s been a problem for us all season. In last week?s Cleveland game, we were down 25 and we fought all the way back to take the lead. We played hard and did everything we could to win that game, but then we left Flip Murray open for a three. Losses like that really sting. They motivate you to keep working so you?re in a position to win next time around. Our free throw shooting has hurt us as of late, too. On Monday, the team as a whole shot a ton of free throws after practice. Everybody got up a lot of shots and worked on their touch. The more you work on them, the more comfortable you?re going to be when you get to the line in a game. As a team, we?ve got to sink more of them?guys know that. It?s a commitment that has to be made by the player. But at the same time, after a game like Sunday?s in Cleveland, the coaches come in and make sure that we?re at the line working on our shooting. Ultimately, though, it?s up to each player to put in the extra time and work to make sure his free throw percentage is where it needs to be. We?re still in this thing. Our win on Tuesday over the Nets was huge and we also had the road win in New York. It?s no secret that I love to play at Madison Square Garden. I feel like I?m at home and I?m playing against guys I see over the summer. Playing there always gives me a little boost and some extra energy to go out and get the job done. A lot of my friends and some family were there to see us beat the Knicks. I played well that night, but I know I?m capable of performing like that on a regular basis. I feel like I?m going to get to that point soon, but not without a little more experience and continued hard work, especially in the offseason. I know I?ve got the talent to do it, but it takes time. I?ve got to become a more intelligent player and that will come with experience. Until then, I?m just going to keep working on becoming a more consistent and complete player. It?s getting to be crunch time and we aren?t going to give any team anything for free. We?re going to make each team and each player earn it on the defensive end. That?s our mindset right now. We?re just going to go out there over the next 20 or so games and compete for a playoff spot. It?s a one game at a time mentality?we can?t afford to look past anybody right now.</div> <div align="center">Source</div>
IF we can manage the 8th spot, there is no reason we cant push for the 6th spot too. The game differences are one or two. But with 20 games togo we gotta win atleast 14.
