RJ and Kmart hang it out on the line
Nets 92, Heat 86
Game 57
File
The Nets win at the line and shoot 49
free throws (making 37), riding the efforts of Richard Jefferson (25 points)
and Kenyon Martin (18 points, 15 rebounds) in this defensive matchup.
Rookie Dwayne Wade gives the Nets fits for three quarters, but at the
end it was defense that dirties up the Heat in quarter number four.
• Box
Score
Nets Record: 36
- 21
Home Record: 21
- 8
Away Record: 15
- 13
Division Record: 14
- 2
Conf. Record: 27
- 10
Other
Game Reviews
Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard
Jefferson, 25.
• Assists: Richard
Jefferson, 4.
• Rebounds: Kenyon
Martin, 152.
• Steals: Lucious
Harris and Richard Jefferson each
had 2.
• Turnovers: Kenyon
Martin, 7.
• Blocks: Kenyon
Martin, 3.
• FG Percentage: Kerry
Kittles, 50.0% (4 - 8). Zoran Planinic was 2 - 2.
Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage:
38.2%
• FT Percentage: 75.5%
• Rebounds: 48
• Rebound Differential: +11
• Turnovers: 15
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 19
• Bench points:
15
• Bench
points Differential: -4
• Steals:
7
• Blocks:
5
•
Points in the Paint: 34
• Double-Doubles:
1 (Kenyon Martin: 18 points, 15 rebounds)
• Triple-Doubles:
0
The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring:
4
• Nets Fast Break Points: 13
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 37.5%
(6 - 16).
• Scoring
Differential Kidd in the game: +10
• Scoring
Differential Kidd out (Planinic at PG): -4
• Double-Doubles
this Season: 24
• Triple
Doubles this Season: 8
• Career
Triple Doubles: 58
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Herald
Washed And Hung Out On The Line
The Nets and the Heat got themselves dirty today with defense, but in the end, it was New Jersey's efforts to fluff and fold Miami at the free throw line that saved the day. Shooting a total of 49 free throws (and making 37, including 32 by Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin combined), the Nets laundered themselves clean in the fourth quarter behind the two get 'em dirty forwards after getting nothing but mucked up by the stifling Heat defense (who played this one nearly as well as the T-Wolves did on Wednesday night - pack the middle, take away Kidd and his ability to run, and make the Nets shoot from outside).
Behind Miami's sparkling rookie Dwyane Wade, the Heat lead for much of the first three quarters with some timely three balls that starched the Nets' attempts to get back in the lead. But the fourth quarter was once again New Jersey's time to tidy up, and with the Nets finally collapsing on Wade and his shooting mates, forcing fouls (Brian Grant and Lamar Odom would foul out, hindering the Heat further) and living at the line. The Heat had one last chance to pull even late, but KMart (aka Superman, according to Lawrence Frank) pulled the last bit of Heat hope out of the air with a late block on Wade. With everything sorted and folded after their first loss in 15 games, is it time for another clean streak? With the Lakers in town tomorrow and the start of another West Coast swing this week, time to start getting dirty for certain.
Dry Clean Only
Extra Starch - The Nets could not run. Jason Kidd had but 3 assists. The Heat were dragging this one out and killing any momentum., forcing the Nets away from their normal offense by running more than one defender at Kidd and forcing him to give up the ball before he could create. Worked to perfection, mostly. Usually, this means that Kidd is taking on too much of the scoring load (he did have 20 tonight, but didn't shoot too many outside shots), and nothing is working for the Nets. Well, almost. The Nets got themselves to the free throw line, repeatedly driving on the Heat and picking up foul after foul. That, plus some serious rebounding and the ever-popular fourth quarter defense (ok, the defense was pretty strong all game, except against Wade in the first half) saved the Nets' collective neck in this one.
No Ticket, No Laundry - Big time step ups tonight from Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin. Both did what they could, finding no openings in which to get inside or score in transition, so they took it to the hoop and lived at the line. Both RJ (25 points, including that 15 - 19 performance from the line) and Martin (18 points, 8 - 13 from the line, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks and 7 turnovers) had 5 - 13 shooting nights, so taking what you can get from the Heat defense was a smart (and winning) ploy.
Washed Out - Talk about potential - Dwyane Wade has it in spades. The rookie has a great court presence, showing veteran moves with creating space for his shot, ball faking the Nets into dizziness, and a pure stroke once he freed himself. But he may have taken (or been given) too much of the offense, as his unsightly 10 turnovers (7 in the second half as the Net harrassment increased) would point out. For the record, Wade had 17 points (but only 5 - 17 shooting, 3 - 8 in the second half), 9 rebounds, 7 assists. Not bad, rook.
Tale Of Two Halves - The Nets were outscored 48 - 38 in the first half. The second half? Nets advantage 54 - 38. In the fourth quarter it was 31 - 24, the Nets biggest quarter of the game. The Nets are just prepping for the playoff run, it seems.
Airing The Dirty Laundry - Got to love my man L. Frank. Picked up another technical today when he came out to argue a call with ref Dick Bavetta and was told to go "sit back down" or words to that effect, which he of course said "no" to and was given a tech. That had mild mannered radio man Chris Carrino ballistic with Bavetta's treatment of Frank. In any case, it's good to have the man out there showing his emotions and fighting for this troops.
Laundry List
Let's see: Nets couldn't get to the line but 5 times in Wednesday night's loss? Richard Jefferson heads there 19 times tonight. Check. Nets couldn't hang on in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, looking for someone to take over? Today, Kenyon Martin does it from both ends in the fourth. Check. Nets want to avoid a two game losing streak? Check. Lawrence Frank put his list together, and got his dirty laundry from Wednesday night sorted and cleaned up. The Nets are now 14 - 1 under Frank, have won 15 of 16, and have won 9 straight at home (remember when their home record was 12 - 8 not more than a month ago?). Watch out, Lawrence - no way to stay clean for long with the Lakers in town. Shaq soils! Kobe messes!
- Joe
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