Slow starts

Here are some numbers of interest from Georgia's last five losses:

Minnesota
  Early deficit:  23-10 after ten minutes
  Final margin:  4 points
Gonzaga
  Early deficit:  21-8 after 8 minutes
  Final margin:   12 points
Georgia Tech
  Early deficit:  14-5 after 8 minutes
  Final margin:   7
Louisiana Tech  Early deficit:  20-4 after 6 minutes
  Final margin:   8
Kentucky
  Early deficit:  14-4 after 5 minutes
  Final margin:   12

It's not hard to notice a pattern.  In their last five losses, Georgia has come out slow and dug themselves a large hole.  Even five minutes in, a 10-point deficit is not small when you're playing a competent basketball team, let along Gonzaga or Kentucky.  The silver lining, if there is one, is that Georgia has been winning the second half, but that's small consolation in a loss.

I don't claim to have an answer here, but it's hard not to point the finger at Mark Fox because it just feels like a coaching issue (remember, I'm a fan, not a coach, so take everything I say with a grain of salt).  Other teams are ready to play from the opening tip, and Georgia is not, particularly at the defensive end.

Fix that problem and there is still a chance to have a special season.  It's at least something to keep an eye on as Georgia plays some critical non-conference games to close out 2014.