Short but powerful

Nets 109, Lakers 103
Game 43 File
Down to eight bodies and short up front, the Nets overcome a serious rebounding deficiency and ride Vince Carter and Jason Kidd to a most-unexpected win in LA. With contributions from everyone and sharp shooting, plus playing with a much higher basketball IQ than the Lakers, makes this second straight road win all the more satisfying.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 17 - 26
Home Record: 9 - 9
Away Record: 8 - 17
Division Record: 3 - 3
Conf. Record: 12 - 13
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Vince Carter, 30.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 11.
• Rebounds: Rodney Buford, 6.
• Steals: Jabari Smith, 3.
• Turnovers: Vince Carter, 4.
• Blocks: Jabari Smith, 3.
• FG Percentage: Travis Best, 100.0% (3 - 3).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 53.1%
• FT Percentage: 68.2%
• Rebounds: 28
• Rebound Differential: -27
• Turnovers: 9
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 18
• Bench points: 19
• Bench points Differential: +4
• Steals: 8
• Blocks: 7
• Points in the Paint: 42
• Double-Doubles: 1 (Jason Kidd: 15 points, 11 assists)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 5
• Nets Fast Break Points: 10
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 38.5% (5 - 13).
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: +7
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: -1 ( Best, Vaughn at PG)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 6
• Triple Doubles this Season: 2
• Career Triple Doubles: 61

Nets Media
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Lakers Media
Los Angeles Times | Lakers

Game 43: Nets 109, Lakers 103 - January 28, 2005
The Long And The Short Of It
The Nets, shorthanded on the roster and just plain short (by size, the Nets had two players taller than 6' 6" available), beat the Los Angeles Lakers despite getting walloped on the boards by a 55 - 28 margin (including an astounding 23 offensive boards). Someone, anyone, please explain to me how a team could be so dumb. I mean, what are the Lakers thinking? That Kobe was somehow going to bail them out?

With Jason Collins and Wednesday night's star Brian Scalabrine out of commission, the Nets were down to eight of the shortest NBA bodies imaginable - with Travis Best (5' 11") and Jacque Vaughn (6' 1") two of the eight. Starting four guards (Kidd, Carter, Buford and Vaughn) and Nenad Krstic, And things started off tiny for New Jersey, as the L.A. Fakers beat their brains out on the boards in the first quarter, watching helplessly like third graders getting their ball taken away by seniors. One early Laker possession featured at least four consecutive offensive rebounds off easy, but blown, close-in shots. Somehow, though, the Nets kept their heads, and their shorts, and by halftime, thanks to a late streak by Nenad Krstic, actually took a four point lead.

Strangely enough, the third quarter belonged to the Nets towering power forward for the evening, 6' 6" Vince Carter. His 18 points, including a miraculous 360 degree spin finger roll bucket over and around Laker Brian Cook that was definitely Top 10 in the league this season, was just enough Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins and keep the Nets in front.

Of course, all those disadvantages started to pile up against NJ, and the Lakers managed to surge ahead by a point on two Butler free throws (even with their ridiculous height advantage, the Lakers managed only one more trip to the line). Overachievement denied? Not with Jason Kidd on the court.

Kidd, with all the timing he could muster, simply took over, sinking (what else?) two huge three pointers to regain control of the situation. With two straight wins, shorthanded no less, on the West Coast swing now in hand, and Eldon Campbell claimed off waivers, this might have been the momentum needed for the Nets to finally make a run for the top of the Atlantic Division standings.

Short on everything but desire, the Nets were tall in the end. Start the cliche train rolling, Joe!

H x W x D
Tall Tales Worth Repeating - My word, what can you say about Vince Carter and that move he made in the third quarter? Do yourself a favor and click on this link to watch it again, even if you saw it live the first time. Carter carries a huge burden on his shoulders, but he's different playing with Jason Kidd (a huge double-double game of his own) than he was in Toronto. He was THE man in Toronto, while here, even with the scoring burdens forced upon him by injury, he is more able to deal with having to be the guy scoring the points, because he knows Kidd will pitch in to get him easier shots and take some of the load off of him, especially late. Vince hasn't shied away from anything, he's a better passer (9 more assists tonight) than imagined, and he does things on the court that can't even be adequately described. He was huge tonight for the Nets, and probably the single biggest reason why they leave LA with a victory.
Shortcomings - Again I will ask - how does a team lose a game in which it outrebounds the opponent so severely, especially on the offensive glass? The Lakers were practically playing keepaway with the basketball, daring the Nets to reach over their heads and grab the basketball. So why the difficulty converting those offensive rebounds? LA scored 50 points in the paint, which should have meant a victory - but instead, they allowed the short-sized Nets 42 of their own points in the paint. The Nets, for their part, found the Lakers short defensively, and made enough high percentage shots to keep themselves in this one. (And why did taller Lakers like Brian Grant and Slava Medvedenko get only token minutes? - Bizarre)
Height Is No Match For Desire - While we're still on the subject, the Nets claimed Campbell off waivers from the Jazz, who acquired him last week for Carlos Arroyo. Rumor has it that Campbell, as quixotic as they come in the NBA, might want to pass up the $2.2 million remaining on his contract and retire if he can't return to Detroit. Frankly, the Nets need bodies - big, capable bodies - so he was worth the risk of the Nets' $5 million salary cap exemption, but if he doesn't want to play in NJ, he'll only drag them down if they force him to for the money. Hard work, showing moxie - not sure that's something Campbell is willing to do.
Little Larry Frank's Largess - Lets' hear it for Nets coach Lawrence Frank, who when handed a short bus full of problems has found a way to make them into shining examples of succes through hard work. Take Jacque Vaughn, for instance. For whatever reason, Jacque was not part of the regular rotation, even when shorthanded. Then, he gets a few minutes late in Phoenix, seizes the opportunity with hustle and desire, and in the Laker game he nets 40 minutes and 16 points, and looks as confident as you can look. He's got Jabari Smith contributing (3 blocks and 3 steals, along with 6 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes) with regular minutes, and he's turned Rodney Buford into a solid citizen and not a chucker in half a season. Maybe I overstate Larry's importance, and his able coach staff (John Kuester, Bill Cartwright, Brian Hill and Tom Barrise) deserves major kudos as well, but anyone not happy with the job Frank is doing? Especially when compared to, say, Byron Scott?
Modern Technology On The Skids - If parts of this review appear to be less than detailed, well, the VCR decided to miss a major portion of the second half of the game for old Joe, who just can't handle a Friday night, 10:30 start like he used to. Did I miss something major, aside from the Carter highlight reel and the game details mentioned above? Drop me a line and let me know.

Tall Order No More?
All the doubters that New Jersey can make the playoffs, line up to the left. All those who say the Nets will make it tothe 2004 - 2005 dance, form a line to right. After witnessing the games against Phoenix and Sacramento, I would have told you I am firmly in the line on the left. After Golden State and tonight's game against the Lakers, starring (who else) Vince Carter and Jason Kidd, I would definitely stand to the right. Do the Nets have enough parts, and more importantly, can they stay healthy enough to capitalize on their cushy home schedule of February? They're showing a lot more gumption and guile to go along with their skill, but can they keep it together? Saturday night's road trip ending second-game-of-a-back-to-back against Utah might go a long way toward telling us
- Joe

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