OK.  So what does that mean?  To me it means that Nellie must start playing Powell a lot -- and at key times -- to find out if he's got a future with the team.  The lack of a competitive "four" is the black hole for us: until we get a guy who can bang and rebound, this team will only make it so far -- and that's assuming BD stays healthy and keeps playing the way he has this year.  Jack and Al are fun -- but their inconsistencies are becoming increasingly troublesome.  JR seems absolutely lost the last few games -- after he had started looking like he was finally back.  All three should play a lot now -- because one or even two will have to go in the off season, and Nellie needs all the info he can get in assessing who stays.  

I care little about trying to make the playoffs this year, since it's just not going to happen.  (Oh, I guess there's still a one percent chance, statistically speaking, but nothing anyone would really wager on.)  Thus, use the last ten games as a kind of training camp -- and see what/who fits for next year.  This is especially true for Powell -- who looks to have a potential upside (even moreso that Ike did, I'd venture).

Finally, as to fundamentals, there were only two guys on last year's team that had 'em: BD and Dun.  And BD didn't use 'em last year, too content to pound the ball, take bad shots, and dispense with his real strengths in attacking with a motion-passing offense; Dun used 'em, but lacked the speed and shooting ability to make them really count.  This year, though, we've seen more.  BD has played a much sounder game, fundamentally, which has caused the entirety of his game to improve terrifically.  And, though people haven't really focused on it adequately, Biedrins is an exceptionally good example of a talented, fundamentally sound player: he's ALWAYS in the right position; his footwork and footspeed are vastly improved; his hands have always been extremely good (cf. "Manos de Piedras" Foyle); his passing has improved; even his (horrendous) FT sdhooting has gotten better.  Also, it's obvious that Monta is starting to get the fundamentals down, and it's especially noticeable in his increasing ability to go both ways off the dribble and use his off hand.  His speed makes him a very good, if still too light, defender.  And if he works on his passing and (especially) ball-handling/dribbling over the Summer, he's going to be that much better next year.  And, though I still fret that he'll backslide as in the past, Jackson has shown that -- when he plays with his emotions under even minor control -- he's very good fundamentally, and probably has the best hands on the team.  

So, I think there's really hope for these guys -- just not this year, and only when they add a four who plays like a four. (I'd take Varejao in a heartbeat, and he should be gettable; listen, I'd take Turiaf, because you have to start somewhere.  Atma likes Gooden, though I think he's just too inconsistent -- and a bit petulant, at times.)  I'm not sure we'll be able to get anyone in the draft -- unless we strangely hit the lottery -- but there are guys available elsewhere who could be had for minor ducats. Thus, let's dispense with hopes for this year; we should be significantly improved next year.  And, though that's our annual mantra, I think there's a reasonable basis to think so now.