Jason Collins takes a ride on the listing S.S. Shaq-tanic

Lakers 100, Nets 83
Game 58 File
Too much offense from the Laker minor players, and an offense that relied on Net outside shooting, and this one was in the loss column early. Of course, it seems that Jason Kidd's knee is bothering him, forcing him out of the game mid-third quarter, never to return, and that can't be good news on the heels of the Nets West Coast excursion beginning Tuesday.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 36 - 22
Home Record: 21 - 9
Away Record: 15 - 13
Division Record: 14 - 2
Conf. Record: 27 - 10
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard Jefferson, 19.
• Assists: Zoran Planinic, 6.
• Rebounds: Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson each had 7.
• Steals: Kerry Kittles, 2.
• Turnovers: Jason Kidd, 4.
• Blocks: Kenyon Martin, 1.
• FG Percentage: Richard Jefferson , 55.5% (5 - 9). Brandon Armstrong was 3 - 3 and Brian Scalabrine was 2 - 2.

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 41.6%
• FT Percentage: 63.6%
• Rebounds: 39
• Rebound Differential: -10
• Turnovers: 13
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 11
• Bench points: 34
• Bench points Differential: -8
• Steals: 6
• Blocks: 1
• Points in the Paint: 36
• Double-Doubles: 0
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 3
• Nets Fast Break Points: 18
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 36.4% (4 - 11).
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: -20
• Scoring Differential Kidd out (Planinic at PG): +3
• Double-Doubles this Season: 24
• Triple Doubles this Season: 8
• Career Triple Doubles: 58

Nets Media
Bergen Record | Nets
Newark Star-Ledger | Nets
Newsday | Nets
NY Daily News | NBA
NY Post | Nets
NY Times | Pro Basketball
YES Network | Nets

Nets Team Pages
CNNSI.com | Nets
ESPN.com | Nets
FoxSports | Nets
NBA.com | Nets
Sportsline.com | Nets

Lakers Media
Los Angeles Times | Lakers

Game 58: Lakers 100, Nets 83 - February 29, 2004
Old Schooled
Tonight the Nets got taken to school by the old timers on the Lakers - folks like Horace Grant (14 points, 7 boards, 23 minutes, age 38) and Gary Payton (16 points, 5 assists, 29 minutes, age 35) - plus the ol' Diesel (Shaq had 19 points, 14 rebounds and one crazy-assed highlight). To make matters much, much worse, post-game we find out that Jason Kidd has a bruised knee that is bothering him, and his scheduled for an MRI in the morning. Not the thing you want to hear in the stretch run.

The Lakers dominated, taking their first double-digit lead 6 minutes into the game, and really never having any trouble with the Nets despite a quiet game from Kobe Bryant. The Nets, true to form in the last three games, could get nothing going on offense, and couldn't make outside shots, so it was obvious by quarter number two that it was going to be a long night. Perhaps most telling, the Nets could not get stops, were slow to non-existent on help defense, and gave the Lakers plenty of shooting space, which was converted time and time again by the likes of Grant, Payton, Brian Cook, and Slava Medvedenko. Of course, Shaq cleaned up the board and even wrapped his legs around the overwhelmed Jason Collins after a dunk, which was either the most frightening or most amusing thing seen in the CAA in some time, depending on your perspective. Garbage time was upon us by mid-third quarter, when Kidd exited for the evening.

Oh, the ugliness will return for the Nets - those "can't beat the Western Conference" whispers will once again become screams, and the Nets will have to ignore the media all throughout this road trip - but they can't ignore the fact that they've been unable to keep up with the Western Conference elite (the Nets are now 9 - 12 against the West, but have lost to the Kings, Spurs (twice), Mavs (twice) and Lakers).

Not Beauty School
Apples For The Gray Beards - If you told me that Kobe and Shaq would combine for 30 points, I'd tell you that the Nets would have a great chance at winning tonight's game. Fat chance. The role playing Lakers, Payton, Grant, Cook, Medvedenko, Kareem Rush, Rick Fox and the rest (did I even forget anyone?), stepped up, made shots and casually ignored the fact that they had open looks as the Nets tried mightily to collapse on Kobe and/or Shaq. And defensively? I made fun of the Lakers' attempts at defense just yesterday. Tonight was by far the greatest defense I've seen this team play in the last year and a half. Or, since the time the Nets got swept in the Finals, I suppose. The Nets role players, by the way, contributed next to nothing, but it wasn't any worse than the starters.
Head Of The Class In Detention? - Kidd clearly hasn't been himself of late, looking a step slow at times, and also not consistently "on" with his passes or his execution. Could it be the knee's been a problem for awhile? Or are we making this up in our heads, looking for excuses now that we know? Kidd had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 turnovers in 28 minutes, but again didn't shoot well (4 - 11) or worse, create well. Here's to health, J-Kidd - our other choices are large doses of Zoran Planinic, the Harris/Kittles combo, the Davis/Harris combo, or some other combination. Planinic, to his credit, wasn't horrible, netting 6 points, 4 boards and 6 assists, but a large part of his contribution was during garbage time.
Big Bully - The Nets couldn't stop Shaq - at all. Jason Collins got a facial AND a Shaq-Wrap, as Shaq slammed home a rebound, and wrapped his legs around the in-the-way Collins to break his fall (or get fresh?). Collins then attempted to lower Shaq down "gently", but at 300+ pounds, all Collins could do was let go, as Shaq thudded to the floor like a felled Sequoia. "TIMBER"! We imagine Collins will be scarred for weeks, if not the rest of his life. Aaron Williams had even less success against Shaq - ATrain looks at 5 feet tall when he's up against the Diesel. Worst of all, the Lakers didn't even need Shaq tonight.
Multiply And Divide - The Nets' big three of Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson found the Lakers length in their way all night, and shot little from up close. What was up close was usually altered to go around Shaq and co. and forced the Nets into outside shooting. That's math that doesn't add up for the Nets, as the support "shooters" (Kerry Kittles and Lucious Harris) combined to go 4 - 15. For the game, the Nets shot themselves into a 42% night only because of the work of garbage time mavens Brandon Armstrong (8 points on 3 -3 shooting the last 5 minutes of the night) and Brian Scalabrine (the Binky Babe went 2- 2 for his first points in seemingly forever).
Free Period Not So - The Nets need homework assigned quickly. The free throw work has been shaky at best and maddening at worst. Tonight, a 14- 22 (64%) performance, led by Richard Jefferson (8 - 14) who continues to struggle at the line of late. You're torn, Netsfans - you love it when he's breaking down the defense and getting to the line, especially when the Nets can't seen to buy a basket any other way, but you cringe when he goes 1 - 2 or 0 - 2 repeatedly...Need better work there, fellas, especially if the running game goes bye-bye and the offense stands around.
February Is Not The Cruelist Month - Silver lining? The Nets end February with a record of 10 - 2, which got them back into the thick of things in the East (of course, the bad news is the two losses come to two Western Conference powers...).

Flunking The Exam
Good thing it's not the Final(s) exam - we would be looking at a repeat of the 2002 Laker sweep. Behind Shaq, Horace Grant and Gary Payton, the Lakers just made the Nets look well, like a "C" student tonight. Clearly, we expect more, given the amazing run that was just completed, but perhaps this long look at Western Conference reality should snap us back to reality. Oh, the Nets are getting real good at winning the games they should win, but the others? The Nets are now 9 - 18 against teams with a better than .500 record. Back to the blackboard, Lawrence, and you may have to do it without your franchise, Jason Kidd. Gulp! Bring on the road trip...
- Joe

Archive | Backlash | Bio | Calendar | Champagne's Blog | Diatribe | Game x Game | History | Home | Joe Netsfan's Blog | Media | Opponents | Players | Playoffs | Search | Specials