Mom lets the Nets have one small gift early
Nets 95, Bulls 78
Game 27
File
Good Nets defense (Bulls shot 37.2%)
and a fine display of power from Richard Jefferson (26 points) shelve
the Bulls early in the 4th quarter.
• Box
Score
Nets Record: 14 - 13
Home Record: 8 - 6
Away Record: 6 - 7
Division Record: 5 - 0
Conf. Record: 8 - 6
Other Game Reviews
Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard
Jefferson, 26.
• Assists: Jason
Kidd, 10.
• Rebounds: Kenyon
Martin and Rodney Rogers each had
9.
• Steals: Kerry
Kittles and Robert Pack each had 2.
• Turnovers: Kidd,
Kittles, and Collins
each had 2.
• Blocks: Jefferson,
Collins, Kittles
and Rogers each had 1.
• FG Percentage: Robert
Pack, 71.4% (5 - 7).
Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 48.7%
• FT Percentage: 81.3%
• Rebounds: 42
• Rebound Differential: +7
• Turnovers: 15
• Turnover Differential: -4
• Bench
points: 17
• Bench
points Differential: -12
• Steals:
8
• Blocks:
4
• Points
in the Paint: 44
• Double-Doubles:
1 (Jason Kidd: 18 points, 10 assists).
• Triple-Doubles:
None
The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring:
5
• Nets Fast Break Points: 15
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 50%
(7 - 14).
• Scoring
Differential Kidd in the game: +20
• Scoring
Differential Kidd out (Pack at PG: -2. Kittles/Harris at PG: -1): -3
• Double-Doubles
this Season: 9
• Triple
Doubles this Season: 4
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Stocking Stuffers
The Nets put the fun back in their season and livened up the holiday season with some stocking stuffers with some 'oops, jams and slams (and some defense) in a laugher against the Bulls. Jason Kidd brought his holiday best, wrapping up a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists (and plenty of downtime), and Richard Jefferson (26 points, 5 assists) and Kenyon Martin (16 points, 9 rebounds) took to the skies like pseudo-santas to fill up Netsfans' hearts (if only for one night). After a 16 - 2 opening head start, the Nets took some time off to enjoy the fire they'd created, allowing the Bulls to take a brief, two point lead in the second quarter (against the second teamers, of course). But the Nets were just toying with all the boys and girls, putting on a second half fast break show pile the lead up as high as 23 points. Early in the 4th the starters got some early rest, and generally the Nets made us believe that there is such a thing as Christmas spirit, for everyone but the Bulls.
Trimming The Tree
Deck The Halls - 'Oops were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Martin and Jefferson soon would be there. The Nets, according to everyone watching this one, had some fun out there, and as a result, seemed to play looser and more coherently than they had in months. A feel good win, all the way around, despite the gloom and injuries that have hung around under the Nets' tree this season.
What Do You Get The Man Who Has Everything? - Jason Kidd, franchise savior but recently playing the role of Grinch, just let it all hang out tonight, ringing up some good cheer, some great passing, and several electrifying moves (did you see his ball fake on the drive to the hoop?), leading the Nets on a third quarter run to put this one away for safekeeping (and earning himself some much needed rest). Included in the burst was a busted play, behind-the-back pass to Martin for a slam that didn't seem physically possible, even on the replay. Kirk Hinrich's early scoring seemed to inspire a fire in him: According to Champagne, when the Bulls took a time-out at the 7 minute mark of the third, just after a Jason jumper gave the Nets an 8 point lead, Kidd turned to the Bulls bench and told them, "It's over." (Champagne was watching a Bulls telecast, and it was Will Purdue who reported hearing Kidd say it). And it certainly was! Merry Christmas, Jason!
The Jolly Fat Man - What got into Rodney Rogers tonight? Playing a, um, larger role with the injury to Aaron Williams, Rogers was seemingly all over the court during his time. And that wacky guy was tossing 'oops like he was the bastard cousin of Jason Kidd. For the record, Rogers chipped in 4 points and 9 much-needed boards (the Nets won the battle on the glass once again, and have gone a long way toward correcting their earlier deficiencies) in 25 minutes.
Corn Cob Pipe And A Button Nose - First it was Kenyon Martin and the headband. Then, Kerry Kittles showed up wearing one. Tonight, two more members of the headband mafia spotted: Brian Scalabrine and Tamar Slay (and newcomer Mikki Moore, if he counts). Scalabrine, for his part, had his look mocked on the YES network broadcast as "chia hair" by Ian Eagle, and more insultingly, as "looking like Wonder Woman." Looked more like the "Eraserhead" look to me...(and we won't get into the Kirk "Heimlich" jokes that were flying around...)
Bad Santa - This is how the Nets season has gone, in a nutshell: Kenyon Martin, taking the opening tip for the gimpy Jason Collins, turns an ankle after getting tangled with Antonio Davis. Nine seconds into the game, the Nets take an injury time-out Luckily, Martin toughed it out, and didn't look any worse for the wear. He came right back with a hook shot just seconds later to start the scoring.
Gift Pack - Was that really Robert Pack running the show and scoring 10 points in 11 minutes?
Christmas Cheer - The Nets, now 14 - 13, are back in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic. They're 7 - 3 in their last 10 games and have built a 6-game home winning streak. OK, it's a bit like getting clothes for Christmas when you were expecting toys, but it'll have to do.
Re-Gifting
The Nets took a gift from the past down from the attic tonight, re-wrapped some fast-breaking, slam dunkin', rough defendin', good timin' basketball from the last two years and put it on display this evening. Thank Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin, Richard Jefferson and Kerry Kittles. Merry Christmas from everyone here at JoeNetsfan to all of you out there. Rest up, have some laughs, enjoy the holiday, and get ready for a tough back-to-back Friday and Saturday night against the Pistons and the Pacers.
- Joe
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