In basketball we let everyone down the lane with 3 seconds left and in football if we make a field goal to go ahead with 2 minutes left we'll let them drive down the field.

Agree - it can be discouraging to watch.
But are the close losses any more predictable than the close wins? 4 out of the first 5 conference games have
gone down to the wire, and we won 2 of those 4 (I assume by NOT letting the other team freely drive the lane?).

100%

We lack the floor leader with a HIGH basketball IQ. We won't have many games were we shoot at or better than 50% from the field, 80% at the line and keep the turnovers low, etc...

To allow a team to go coast to coast ; poor shot selection at critical moments in the game; inability to recognize 1-1 matchup advantages....

More time in the video room is needed...