CHICAGO - This is not how a grand slam bid is supposed to kick off, limping out of the starting gates looking like a team that had lost all its marbles.
TNT coach Chot Reyes gave us an idea why.
"We're not just playing together, there's no connectedness, there's absolutely no chemistry inside, players are playing selfish basketball."
Oh, the irony.
READ Enciso comes back to haunt San Miguel as TNT ends slump at last
A team whose parent company mints money by connecting people through wireless communication and in the world wide web is devoid of internal connection.
Thankfully, some of the bleeding ceased after Sunday night's 89-84 victory over San Miguel. But the win was a temporary relief and not necessarily a cure of what ails TNT.
They scored only 89, which followed the 81 they manufactured in a loss to Phoenix, 94 against Converge and 74 versus NLEX.
BUT DEFENSE IS AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM.
According to a current PBA coach, three letters sum up the core of the Tropa's woes.
RHJ.
"Rondae Hollis-Jefferson plays all positions and he fixes all their defensive lapses, Galing kasi n'ya sa weak side help and he can also score and take over a game when needed."
After being burned by the Phoenix Fuel Masters last Friday, Reyes was perplexed and told reporters, "Well, I wish I had some answer for you but I myself couldn't figure it out," Reyes said.
There actually is a solution that is quietly being worked out as soon as smoke began to billow in the kitchen.
Per multiple sources, the Tropang 5G and Mikey Williams are "in talks" again.
The band-aid solution comes down to simple arithmetic. If TNT can't stop teams from scoring, the only counter strike is to outscore them. And there is no one better in scoring in the PBA than Mikey, a two-time champion and a two-time Finals MVP who once drilled 10 triples in a title game versus Ginebra.
DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.
But TNT fans who've been waiting for Mikey's return after a 25-month absence should restrain their enthusiasm for now. I'm told both sides are still a gulf apart in the aspect of money.
TNT, understandably so, doesn't want to pony up $26,000 a month. And Mikey has a strong case of deserving top dollar. He's the same player, albeit two years older since he left the PBA.
Animosity still flows from both sides, but I think it's time for TNT to be the adult in the room here.
Immortality. Legacy. That's what's at stake.
If this Philippine Cup campaign ends up in flames, TNT will be remembered for failing to win the trifecta in Season 49 instead of capturing the Commissioner's and Governors' Cup crowns.
Money ends grudges. So does desperation.
Maybe it's time to sign Mikey while things are still manageable at 1-3.
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