Stuck In Their Craw
What a bizarre game, another home loss no less, for the Nets tonight.
A whopper of a first quarter, perhaps the best they've played all season, and a 33 - 18 lead. It got as high as 16 points, and it was 41 - 27 after 16 minutes. Attacking from the start with something to prove after two straight home losses, five straight bad quarters, and the memory of two losses to the Knicks already this year, the Nets were absolutely unstoppable. Kidd had 10 assists in the first quarter, they got the Knick bigs in early foul trouble, and Sean Williams was having the offensive game of his life with 10 first quarter points, most on easy buckets close in.
Then the damned bottom fell out, the Knicks started attacking while the Nets settled for bad jumpers (the second teamers started that early in the second quarter) and the mojo totally switched. For well more than two straight quarters, the Knicks had any shot they wanted, and they made them too. You would think after Jamal Crawford sunk the Nets in the first two meetings they might keep a better eye on him.
In any case, the Knicks had a lead as high as 15, when the Nets roared back for the comeback. Again, they started attacking, getting to the hoop (and missing too many free throws) before it all came to a dead stop shortly after the Nets finally regained the lead with less than 3 minutes to play. Crawford hit not one but two tough shots, the first with the shot clock set to expire (a banker over Kidd) and the second on what looked like a careless chuck from behind the three point line again over a late to arrive Kidd (and only Crawford seems to be able to make them work). The Nets went cold, and the Knicks held on for yet another victory over New Jersey.
So, they head to the West Coast at 18 - 20, with a 3 game losing streak and a giant puzzle of how they had the Knicks on the ropes early but couldn't put them away. Where did the first quarter energy go? Is it the bench that keeps sucking the life out of the Nets? And why can't they seem to defend for more than say a quarter per game? Is it really that hard to stay on Jamal Crawford, at least to discourage him from shooting?
Good game from Josh Boone offensively, but he had a rough time with Eddie Curry and Zach Randolph, both of whom had their way down low. Kidd finished with 17 assists, Carter was there early, gone for the long Knick run, back for the fourth, but again couldn't make the tough shots late when they needed them.
Yes, the Nets choked another one away. One that never should have been in doubt after the first quarter. Jamal Crawford was lethal, but why doesn't anyone stay on top of him?
I could go on and on with this one, but we'll leave it at that for the moment.
Off to the West Coast, then. Game review tomorrow.
Joe
A whopper of a first quarter, perhaps the best they've played all season, and a 33 - 18 lead. It got as high as 16 points, and it was 41 - 27 after 16 minutes. Attacking from the start with something to prove after two straight home losses, five straight bad quarters, and the memory of two losses to the Knicks already this year, the Nets were absolutely unstoppable. Kidd had 10 assists in the first quarter, they got the Knick bigs in early foul trouble, and Sean Williams was having the offensive game of his life with 10 first quarter points, most on easy buckets close in.
Then the damned bottom fell out, the Knicks started attacking while the Nets settled for bad jumpers (the second teamers started that early in the second quarter) and the mojo totally switched. For well more than two straight quarters, the Knicks had any shot they wanted, and they made them too. You would think after Jamal Crawford sunk the Nets in the first two meetings they might keep a better eye on him.
In any case, the Knicks had a lead as high as 15, when the Nets roared back for the comeback. Again, they started attacking, getting to the hoop (and missing too many free throws) before it all came to a dead stop shortly after the Nets finally regained the lead with less than 3 minutes to play. Crawford hit not one but two tough shots, the first with the shot clock set to expire (a banker over Kidd) and the second on what looked like a careless chuck from behind the three point line again over a late to arrive Kidd (and only Crawford seems to be able to make them work). The Nets went cold, and the Knicks held on for yet another victory over New Jersey.
So, they head to the West Coast at 18 - 20, with a 3 game losing streak and a giant puzzle of how they had the Knicks on the ropes early but couldn't put them away. Where did the first quarter energy go? Is it the bench that keeps sucking the life out of the Nets? And why can't they seem to defend for more than say a quarter per game? Is it really that hard to stay on Jamal Crawford, at least to discourage him from shooting?
Good game from Josh Boone offensively, but he had a rough time with Eddie Curry and Zach Randolph, both of whom had their way down low. Kidd finished with 17 assists, Carter was there early, gone for the long Knick run, back for the fourth, but again couldn't make the tough shots late when they needed them.
Yes, the Nets choked another one away. One that never should have been in doubt after the first quarter. Jamal Crawford was lethal, but why doesn't anyone stay on top of him?
I could go on and on with this one, but we'll leave it at that for the moment.
Off to the West Coast, then. Game review tomorrow.
Joe
posted by Joe Netsfan at 11:02 PM
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