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Hell Hounds of the Garden State
I loved the spitting anger out of Kidd after the final buzzer. I couldn't tell whether he was barking at a ref for letting the clock take an eternity to die away, or at a Celtics player, or both, or neither, or what. I loved Lucious Harris for whooping it up in celebration, rubbing it in Boston's face. I can't stand the hang-dog Nets, epitomized for seasons by Keith Van Horn at his worst. This post-season we've seen that even Keith can summon up a fury when needed.

This is what I want: a team of snarling, rabid attack dogs. I want a Nets team that isn't ignored league-wide, but hated, feared and ultimately envied. I want earthly rewards, not recompense in heaven for playing a beautiful game. Kidd's charges said it all: "You'll have to drive over my body to take this series. You get to the Finals through me. And you're not getting to the Finals."

In short, I'd like to see more "asshole" in this team's make-up. These are the New Jersey Nets, after all. They're not from San Antonio.
- Champagne

Eastern Conference Final Game 4 - May 27, 2002 - Nets 94, Boston 92
Touched By An Angel
The Nets, enraged by the devilry of "The Collapse" [Game 3] looked to Paul Pierce, of all people, to provide the healing hands to deliver a tremendous series-evening Nets win.

Those hands of Pierce blessed the Nets after Boston had scrambled back from as many as 15 points down to tie the score with just 17.8 seconds left in the game, the only time the Celtics and Nets had been deadlocked. Lucious Harris, the veteran Net, took it to the hoop and was fouled with 6.6 seconds remaining. The angelic Harris calmly nailed both free throws to give the Nets a precarious 94 - 92 lead with those precious 6.6 ticks left on the clock, which, for the storied Celtics, is an eternity. Pierce drove to the hoop on the other end, and Keith Van Horn fouled him. One second left. What followed could only have come from divine intervention: Pierce, the Net killer with an Achillies palm at the free throw line, missed his first attempt. Pierce was forced to deliberately miss the second attempt. The ball rebounded to Celt Tony Battie, who threw up a shot that looked good as time was expiring. The shot bounced around the rim and out. Were the Nets more lucky than good today? Not exactly; this was no mere happenstance.

No, this was better. This was the Nets getting their godly rewards for once again playing a team game, with excellent defense, good interior play and getting all around heavenly games from someone other than Jason Kidd. Kerry Kittles (22 points, including his first three's of the series), Keith Van Horn (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Kidd (near triple double of 19 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists) each started the game by hitting at least one three, with the Nets piling up 5 and a 19 - 8 lead. Most of the rest of this one would feature the Nets getting a double digit lead, the Celtics batting it back to close to within a few, and the Nets opening the lead back up before the cycle would repeat again. Even with a four point lead after three and the Celtics not yet having taken a lead, you could feel that this one was going to go down to the wire. Had the Nets said their prayers and lit some candles?

The answer was yes – and the Nets get the split they wanted, and we've got ourselves a series. Home court is now back squarely on the Nets' altar, with Game Five coming Wednesday. Whether or not you're the religious sort, I don't think you want to be caught anywhere but worshipping either at the Continental Arena or in front of your TV. To borrow a catchphrase from the Mets of yore: Ya Gotta Believe!

Healing Hands of Fate
Drink Your Milk. Make Your Free Throws - Were any of you as excited as I was to see "Loosh" step up to the line with the pressure of an entire series on his shoulders? No doubt about it, those free throws were going in. Here's to our Angel on the Bench, Harris, for giving us yet another reason to celebrate, with 12 points in 16 minutes and the biggest clutch free throws of this long and magical season.
Three To Be You And Me - It seemed to me that the Nets were determined to change their luck, and the outcome, of their three point shots by firing at will. Their first four shots that connected were threes, and before the game was six minutes old they had 5 and an 11 point lead. The Nets shot 10 - 21 for the game, with Kittles going 4 for 7 (finally) and Van Horn 3 -7. The Nets aren't a great three ballin' team, but they usually use them to their advantage. For the first time in this series, they were able to get something out of them.
Close Encounters - Another tough closeout of a game for the Nets. Six fourth quarter turnovers told us the Nets still have their flashbacks to Game 3, but the final score tells us that they got themselves over the hump. Thankfully, it wasn't all up to Kidd – Kittles, Van Horn and Harris were there for him, even as his number two man, Kenyon Martin, struggled (8 points on 3 - 13 shooting, but again strong defense). Some killer instinct, some luck, and some willfull determination from both Kidd and Byron Scott gets the Nets through it.
Divine Comedy - Maybe this is a cheap shot, maybe it's justified criticism. But the Celtics got what? 61 points from the combo of Pierce and Antoine Walker, which is about 2/3's of Boston's total. I know they're a great duo, but no way they Win Big with so little contribution from everyone else. They're superstars, but they can't play 2 on 5 every time down the court and expect to get away with it. They almost did, you say? Well, live by the dynamic duo, die by the dynamic duo.
Bavetta's Baretta - Dick Bavetta, the ref with about a million years of experience, and the man who called this one, let this game be as physical as it could be. This led to good defense and perhaps a questionable call or two. But I say, keep it up. Stop calling the "nickel-dimer"'s, the touch fouls. The game is better off.
Taking Charge - Did you see Kidd on the defensive end? By my count he drew four charges on the Celts, including 3 on Pierce [by Jack Ramsey's count, Kidd drew 5 - Champagne]. The man is incredible. But you already know that.
Bench Press - Scott, sensing that something was clearly amiss in the last game with the second unit, went to an 8 man rotation tonight, with Anthony Johnson and Jason Collins sitting it out. The Kittles/Harris combo, which hasn't been seen since around Game 70 or so of the season, made it's return for the two minutes that Kidd didn't play. I for one applaud the move. Anything to keep the Nets offense from breaking down against the relentless Celtic horde.

Dedicated Men of the Cloth
Brothers and Sisters, let us praise all those Nets who made this one special. First, the spiritual leader, Jason Kidd, for everything he does, on and off the court. "I was tired of being humble," he stated at the post-game podium. Blasphemy? We say no way: Jason Kidd is writing the Nets' Good Book, something they never had in the NBA until this Miracle Season. And the Nets need Christian soldiers, not head-hanging sheep. And how about some praise for two abused souls who found some guidance (and their shots), Kerry Kittles and Keith Van Horn. And finally, let us praise from the mountaintops the steady hand of Lucious Harris, who led the flock from the confusion of the fourth quarter's Valley of the Shadow of Death and into the heaven of a healing win.
– Joe

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