No turkey for this Net bunch on Game One of the West Coast swing
Nets 93, Sonics 70
Game 13
File
The Nets feed on the Sonics inside,
and turn a deficit into a blowout win with a second half feast on the
interior led by Kenyon Martin. Jason Kidd returns and records a triple
double, Lucious Harris also debuts, and the Nets kick off a five game
West Coast swing with an uplifting performance on the heels of the news
of 'Zo's retirement.
• Box
Score
Nets Record: 6 - 7
Home Record: 2 - 5
Away Record: 4 - 2
Division Record: 3 - 0
Conf. Record: 4 - 5
Other Game Reviews
Nets High Men:
• Points: Kenyon
Martin, 27.
• Assists: Jason
Kidd, 10.
• Rebounds: Kenyon
Martin, 14.
• Steals: Kidd,
Martin, adn Harris, 2 each.
• Turnovers: Pack
and Jefferson, 2 each.
• Blocks: Kenyon
Martin, 2.
• FG Percentage: Richard
Jefferson, 72.7% (8 - 11).
Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 46.9%
• FT Percentage: 73.7%
• Rebounds: 45
• Rebound Differential: +6
• Turnovers: 9
• Turnover Differential: -6
• Bench
points: 19
• Bench
points Differential: +8
• Steals:
10
• Blocks:
3
• Points
in the Paint: 58
• Double-Doubles:
Kenyon Martin (27 points, 14 rebounds)
•
Triple-Doubles: Jason Kidd (13
points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists)
The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring:
4
• Nets Fast Break Points: 24
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 40%
(4 - 10).
• Scoring
Differential Kidd in the game: +28
• Scoring
Differential Kidd out (Pack and Harris/Kittles combo at PG): -5
• Double-Doubles
this Season: 4
• Triple
Doubles this Season: 3
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Second Helpings
The Nets had a pre-Thanksgiving meal in the second half at the Sonics expense, dominating the interior behind Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson and turning a nine point deficit into a blowout win. Game one of this five game road trip is served up on a platter by a cold outside shooting by Seattle chefs in the second half, after nailing 7 three pointers in the first half and jumping all over the Nets' second teamers in the second quarter. And the Nets would reverse that trend, shooting horribly in the first half (32%) and terrifically in the second half (65%), doing the damage inside (the Nets outscored the afraid-to-commit-to-the-inside Sonics 58 - 12 in the paint) with his patented bam! slams. Jason Kidd returned from his one week rest looking fit and of course rang up another triple double (13 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists in a manageable 36 minutes), and Lucious Harris made his seasonal debut with some heady play while knocking off the rust. The Nets gorged on the Sonics, made it to that so-far elusive 90 point barrier, and hopefully found some reasons to be thankful after all the bad karma surrounding the team after the sudden Alonzo Mourning retirement.
Bountiful Harvest
KMart Cooking - Martin was awesome in this one, controlling the interior and keeping the Nets in the game single-handedly in the first half when NJ could not generate any other offense. KMart had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the first half on his way to 27 point, 14 rebound, 2 steal and 2 blocked shot game. And his defensive work, especially in the second half, was outstanding. Covering phenom Ronald Murray for much of the evening, ol' Flip could manage but 11 points on 4 - 17 shooting.
Candied Slams - The Nets were unbelievable when they finally got their fast break moving in the second half, as Kidd and co. sent finishers Jefferson (18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) and Kittles (11 points, 5 rebounds) into the lane for some funky fresh slams, jams and layins. Not only that, but there was enough no-look, behind the back and misdirection passes (Martin sent Jefferson in with a behind the back no look that was a sight to be seen) to fill up anyone's wish list.
Generous Portions - Go ahead, grab some of these stats and chew on them for awhile. The Nets outrebounded the Sonics (45 - 39), turned the ball over only 9 times, had a 24 - 5 fast break advantage, shot 47% and harassed Seattle into a 34% night (built brick by brick in the second half). While we're talking stats, the Sonics took a Celtic like 26 threes, making 10 (only 3 in the second half). And the Nets were handed a 14 point second quarter, only to hand Seattle one right back in the third quarter along with an 11 point fourth quarter (the Nets would outscore the Sonics 57 - 25 in the second half).
Setting The Table - OK, the bench was terrible in the second quarter, effectively turning a 3 point disadvantage into a 12 point hole, but they came through in the second half. Aaron Williams (8 points), Rodney Rogers (only 5 points but some heady play) and Lucious Harris (3 points) all began to look like the bench we've been waiting for (and in Rogers' case, we've been waiting since his first day as a Net). And Robert Pack appears to have passed the rook, Zoran Planinic, on his way to backing up Kidd (he was certainly adequate in the first half).
Comfort Foods - You may not have been a fan of the combo, but for Joe it was nice to see Kerry Kittles and Lucious Harris get some time together, giving Kidd some rest. Familiarity is a good thing in this case.
Champagne Brunch - For the second straight game, Champagne was part of the viewing at JNF World Central. As always, he was tossing off gems left and right, including:
"Luke Ridnour looks like the guy who took Britney's (Spears) virginity."
"Vladimir Radmanovic looks like Cro-mag man."
"Brent Barry looks like the guy from the Strokes."
"Kelly Tripucka is the master of the obvious." (this was said in frustration, after the talks-too-much-without-saying-enough Trip said, "the Sonics have a high shooting percentage because they'd had high percentage shots."...
Rich Desserts
Whether they learned something from the Alonzo Mourning situation and used it as motivation, or just due for a breakout game because the core group is now back from injury, the Nets kicked off the West Coast swing with some fine dining and a hell of a performance by Kenyon Martin. Perhaps Martin is using his poor choice of words as a personal motivator to make it up to 'Zo. Whatever the case, let's give thanks for a game like this.
- Joe Netsfan
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