The Hornets were dazed and confused in the fourth quarter for the second straight game.
Joe Sidebar
THE Game
Lives On
Nice piece at halftime tonight from Fox Sports
on various reactions and commentary from the players, the media and the
fans on that incredible Game 5 win against the Pacers last Thursday. A
great cross-section of people mostly had the same "oh no" reaction
to Reggie Miller and the shot heard 'round the world (or at least clear
to the Turnpike).
As for Joe, something that Ian Eagle said in Thursday's telecast still
resonates with me. Bird, commenting during a timeout in the first overtime
with all the incredulity he could muster, stated somewhat simply that
"For the fans at home, this is torture." Meaning that experiencing
it at the arena with 20,000 people gave everyone a chance to share their
misery with someone. Joe, like many fans watching at home, was alone agonizing
along with Bird and Raf on the television. Champagne, Joe's usual commiserator,
was on his way to London, and Mrs. Netsfan surely wasn't interested in
what had become the biggest battle in Nets franchise
history. Left to wallow in his own mixture of pride, disappointment and
abject horror alone, Joe nearly shut down from it all. Which of course
led, much to my chagrin, to a comically, wild meandering novel of a Game
5 review.
Luckily, this is the year for happy endings, Netsfans.
Champagne is back, and will be bringing us all up to date with the latest
ramblings in his mind. Not to mention his master illustrations and his
fierce editing. Thankfully for Joe, and just in time.
-Joe
Nets 102, Hornets 88
On The Loosh
All those flapping jaws and lack of respect from the Charlotte Hornets before Game 2 generated lots of wind but no substance as the hot air propelled the Nets, specifically Lucious Harris and Keith Van Horn, to a motivated victory and a 2 - 0 lead. With a subpar game from MVP snub Jason Kidd, who struggled with his shot, and early foul trouble from the center position, someone needed to spark the Nets against another first half assault by Baron Davis. That someone was Harris, who scored a game high 24 points on 10 - 11 shooting and came up huge in the fourth when the Nets needed to elevate their game. Despite all the talk of how things were going to be different inside for the Hornets with Jamaal Magloire coming back from a one-game suspension, Game 2 ended just like Game 1 did: with no close-out from the Hornets, and with Davis getting shut out until a meaningless free throw at the end.
The Nets started off the game as if their intention was to use every foul from the center position that they had. MacCulloch left before he arrived, and Aaron Williams picked up foul number 3 before the game was 9 minutes old, as the Hornets tried to take advantage of the Nets inside. But the Nets hung tough behind Jason "Tractor Pull" Collins, who had his career high game against the Hornets earlier in the year, and survived a bit of ugliness between Kidd and PJ Brown, who appeared to push Kidd down and then step on him after Kidd fell driving the lane. After double technicals were called, the Nets kicked it into gear behind Kidd, Martin and Harris for a 24 -19 lead after one.
But Davis wasn't done dealing and wheeling. Reverse layups, three point bombs, and mid-range jumpers – everything was falling for Davis, who had it going on. But the Nets matched and exceeded Davis with Harris, who had 8 points in the quarter, and Van Horn, who hit two threes and had 8 points as well. Davis hit a long three at the end to pull the Hornets to 53 - 50 at the half.
The third quarter brought the inevitable offensive slowdown, as the Hornets ran off an 8 - 2 streak to take a 62 - 59 lead. But in another odd parallel to Sunday's game, the Nets used a short burst of the Winnepego's motor to take a four point lead behind Trodd's only 6 points of the night. The Nets then kept up the offensive behind another three from Keith and two drives from Kidd for an 80 - 72 lead after three.
Out of the gate in the fourth, the Nets looked like they would put this one on ice early, as Davis went into the dead zone and a 6 - 0 Net run put them in command 86 - 74 with 8 minutes left. Charlotte then switched to a zone, which befuddles the Nets like a bird with a plate glass window blocking it's flight path, and the Hornets ran off a 9 - 0 assault to pull to within three. Kidd Time, right? Nope. Loosh Time. Harris went on his own personal 6 - 0 run to bump the lead back to nine and the good time roll would continue for another night. The big interior slaughter never materialized, thanks to judicious use of fouls. Davis, who promised to take control and take shots late in the game after he failed to do so in Game 1, didn't do anything but virtually mirror his late Game 1 performance, going more than 15 minutes without scoring before that weak free throw.
Watch out - the Nets are on the loose and gaining momentum.
Running With The Devil
Use The Force, Jason - The Nets should be fired up for the snubs that Kidd and Byron Scott got from the NBA cognoscenti. Though Kidd didn't have a good game (his shot would not fall; he was 5 - 18 from the field, with 11 points and 6 assists), his teammates had his back. And guess what? The Nets don't have to have a high scoring game from Kidd to win. Sound like the regular season script?
Diamond Lou - How big was Harris tonight? He was unconscious from the field. He scored (24 points in 24 minutes). He rebounded (7 boards? C'mon.) He defended. And best of all, when no one wanted to take a shot or break apart the zone, Harris was fearless. That's how you win playoff games.
Kayo Keith - Van Horn's line looks fantastic; 20 points, on 8 for 16 from the field, including 4 of 6 from three point land. 11 rebounds. 5 assists. But you know what? He was where he was supposed to be defensively when he was supposed to be there. Which is a big damned deal when you're talking about Van Horn. He really was the whole package tonight. Another way you win playoff games.
Fight, Fight, Fight - The Nets are doing a nice job going to the glass, cutting off the interior and generally making things difficult for the Hornets. When Davis and David Wesley stop hitting from outside, the Hornets get in trouble because as talented as Elden Campbell is, he's about as dumb as a post and unreliable as Amtrak. Go ahead PJ Brown, George Lynch and Jamaal Magloire – we dare you to beat us.
Confidence, Like Sleep, Is Overrated -
The Hornets were confident that despite the Game 1 loss they would win Game 2 because their secret weapon, Jamaal Magloire, was returning to the lineup. Byron Scott, so unnerved at the prospect that he said, and I paraphrase, "I didn't know that Magloire was the Kareem Abdul Jabbar of backup centers." Ian Eagle, Fox Sports NY announcer, seconded the thought. "I didn't get the memo, either," said Bird, sarcastically. After all of that, did Magloire make a difference? Magloire had 13 points and 10 rebounds in 16 foul plagued minutes, but once again the Hornets went cold down the stretch. With or without Magloire, you can't win unless you put the ball in the bucket, now, can you? Now, stop yapping and whining and show us what you've got.
Good For Us
Two of the nicest Nets, Lucious Harris and Keith Van Horn, carried the day when their MVP could not. That's a great story in and of itself. But perhaps more importantly, this was yet another affirmation of the Nets' team concept in full effect, MVP or no MVP, and an excellent way to further explain to the basketball nation what this team is all about. The balanced scoring (6 players in double figures), the nightly crowning of a different hero, the will to win of their infallable leader, and the resurrection of a franchise from the mire just make this the story in the NBA this season. Something special is happening here, Nets fans.
– Joe
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