The difference is that they simply had better, more polished players.  You look at the team now... There is no way you should have to fill a roster with three undrafted players. No offense to CJ, Kelenna, and Morrow but they just are not polished NBA players. Also, there is no form of experienced leadership that players like Baron and Jason Richardson brought to the team.  They knew how to play a crazy style of basketball, but within control. 

        Also, unlike this team, the WE BELIEVE team had a STRENGTH and it was fast-paced scoring.  This was because we had quick players at their positions, not just smaller guys who played a position up. Our versatile  players such as Al Harrington and Matt Barnes, could actually defend guys stronger than them and outsmart them on the offensive end.  Frankly, Corey Maggette does not have the skill set to play power forward.  He is a set small forward as he prefers to drive from the top of the key, rather than posting up in the paint and out-muscling guys bigger than him. 

        Plus, the WE BELIEVE team was flowing with experience with a good amount of talent.  They knew how to pull out close games, and how to get defensive stops in important situations.  This team now has obviously misunderstood the "fast-paced scoring" concept as they tend to make many mistakes and totally disregard defense.  Part of this reason is coaching.  Don Nelson is not a "young player" coach.  By this I mean, with young players with potential, they need more instruction and boundaries than an older and more experienced player does. Players such as Anthony Randolph, and Stephen Curry frankly arent going to develop into prolific basketball players without the proper coaching to help them improve rather than run rampant. Anthony Randolph should not have to guard centers and half to consistently body up in the paint. He was drafted as a 3/4 thus excels at the 3/4 position.  Same with Stephon Curry.  He is a 2 guard.  Stop trying to make him into  a point guard. Why was he so astonishing at Davidson? Because he had plays run for him as a shooting guard, not a point guard.

       Another significant difference between the two teams was the bench play.  Back then, we had explosiveness off the bench such as Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, and Monta Ellis.  They brought intensity and live and fulfilled the depth needed.  Now, look at us. We have third stringers, undrafted players, and D league players coming off the bench.  That simply will not contribute to a winning cause.  To me, bench players are suppose to keep the score around where it is when the starters came out.  The WE BELIEVE bench successfully did this, our team now does not.  Simple as that.  When your bench is disfunctional, does not keep you in games, and brings no intensity and energy on defense, you will not be a thriving team.

      One more thing.  Our situation now is because of the front office.  You might ask why?  Well, because we traded Jason Richardson, a highly developed NBA player, for a player who played one year at North Carolina well. I mean, c'mon, Richardson is a solid basketball player. Why take a gamble right after your first playoff team in years???  And then the whole Al Harrington trade.  If your gonna trade Al Harrington because he wants to leave, be my guest.  But please, get a player that will contribute to our cause in future years to come.  No... We get Jamal Crawford, who does absolutely nothing to help us except get us through a losing season with less embarrassment and no.... Don't resign big bench players like Pietrus and Barnes. I know the whole Baron thing was not our fault.  He simply wanted to move on.  But if Baron leaves, for God sakes get another veteran point guard.  Many of you might be thinking Monta Ellis, but folks, he is a pure scoring 2 guard, not a ball-handling assist machine that runs a young and wild offense.

        SO that leaves Stephen Jackson.  It was a good idea to move him, i am not gonna lie.  But who do we get in return, Bell and Radmanovic.  Bell, the key component in the deal, was injured!!! Why trade for a player who needs surgery and will be out all year when he only has a one-year contract?! So we end up with Radmanovic, a poor rebounder for his height with no physical presence.  Oh but he is labeled a shooter, nice!.... Nope cannot shoot at all.  Actually, he is one of the worst efficient shooters in basketball. Hmmmm, a shooter who can't shoot, terrific!!

So now, we lost all of our starters from the WE BELIEVE, except for Biedrins, who now is injured.  We totally depleted our bench, who played a big part in our success in 2007.  And we lost our ability and experience. 

So what are we now, one of the worst teams in the league that is NOT IMPROVING, NOT DEVELOPING and basically, has no light at the end of the tunnel in the future. Yes, grim you might say, but very very true.