Payton out, BARRETT in was the mistake.
Yep. We had the 97-91 lead and momentum with 8:16 to play when Payton got his 5th foul.
So why take him out of the game? What are we saving him for?
He was inserted back in at 6:24 remaining and the lead now a two point deficit 97-99.
He played the last 6:24 and didn't pick up a foul.
I just don't like the kneejerk coaching philosophy that says sub a guy out when he picks up his 5th.
I want Fiz at that point to read the game... nobody was doing what Payton was doing. Frank and Dennis were off. So why go with RJ and Wellington in the backcourt -- you just saw what not starting a PG did when you had RJ and Trier out there to start the game when we started off shooting 1-11.
We needed to stick with the hot hand and IF IF IF he fouls out we should have a big enough lead by then that it won't matter. That's what i would've wanted Fiz to understand. You don't take out the main thing that gave you the lead JUST BECAUSE HE PICKED UP HIS 5th.
I hated that lack of guts. Just because its the thing you usually do doesn't mean you do it in every instance and this was the game where there were no good options besides EP at the point.