Joe Netsfan Game x Game 1- Nets 112, Bulls 103 OT

Antoine found the Wright time to help out

Nets 112, Bulls 103 OT
Game 1 File
Coming out firing early behind Richard Jefferson, the Nets take an early 17 point lead but fritter it away with a lousy third quarter. Bhind Ben Gordon's sudden explosion, the Bulls reduced the lead, then caught the Nets in the fourth quarter, briefly taking the lead. Antoine Wright helps to bail out the Nets at the end of regulation, and OT, and NJ picks up the first win of the new season.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 1 - 0
Home Record: 1 - 0
Away Record: 0 - 0
Division Record: 0 - 0
Conf. Record: 1 - 0
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard Jefferson, 29.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 13.
• Rebounds: Richard Jefferson, 10.
• Steals: Jason Kidd, 5.
• Turnovers: Vince Carter, 4.
• Blocks: Wright, Carter and Jefferson each had 2.
• FG Percentage: Antoine Wright, 57.1% (8 - 14).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 40.2%
• FT Percentage: 90.2%
• Rebounds: 48
• Rebound Differential: +3
• Turnovers: 17
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 16
• Bench points: 42
• Bench points Differential:+13
• Steals: 9
• Blocks: 7
• Points in the Paint: 28
• Double-Doubles: 1 (Richard Jefferson: 29 points, 10 rebounds)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 5
• Nets Fast Break Points: 21
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 50.0% (2 - 4).
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: +7
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: +2 (Armstrong, Carter)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 0
• Triple Doubles this Season: 0
• Career Triple Doubles: 87

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

Bulls Media:
Chicago Sun-Times | Bulls
Chicago Tribune | Bulls

Game 1: Nets 112, Bulls 103 OT – October 31, 2007
Wright Time
Everything Wrong with Antoine Wright was certainly not on display in the Nets opening night overtime win at the Izod Center tonight. Wright was a force in the big fourth quarter, after the Nets had more than frittered away a 17 point lead, making three big shots when Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and Jason Kidd suddenly couldn't make a bucket. Despite lots of horrors and some tricks and treats, on Halloween night the Nets show a few things (lots of fortitude, some end-game execution, made free throws) that were missing last season, and that's a good way to start things.

Early on, this was mostly Net basetball, with Richard Jefferson doing much of the damage in helping the Nets build a 15 point halftime cushion with aggressive drives to the hoop. With the Bulls in early foul trouble and looking slow, the Nets played enough defense to start pulling away early in the second quarter. With Jefferson scoring 8 points in the last 4 minutes of the second quarter, the Nets hit the locker room with that 15 point lead and a good feeling.

But as quickly as it came in the first half, it unraveled in the third quarter. The Bulls came back on the shooting of Ben Gordon, who at one point nailed eight straight points not long after the Net lead had climbed to 17, and the race was on from there. Just able to keep the Bulls at bay after losing all but a point of the lead with 3:33 to play in the third, Chicago finally tied the score at 69 on a Gordon jumper, setting up a tense finish.

Just 20 seconds into the fourth quarter, Andres Nocioni nailed a jumper (his only one of the game at that point) to give the Bulls their first lead. It would then become a scrum, with the Nets taking a three or four point lead and the Bulls roaring back. With the Nets trying to ride Carter, it was Wright who kept them in the game when Carter, and then Jefferson and Kidd, went stone cold late. After RJ hit a three to get the Nets a 4 point lead, the Bulls ran off 7 straight points to take a 3 point lead with 4:14 to go. At that point, Wright nailed a huge, contested three to tie it, then Carter tipped in a rebound to get the Nets a 2 point cushion.

Things got interesting from there. Gordon and Jefferson each hit free throws and then Wright nailed another 3, giving the Nets a 7 point lead with 2 minutes to play. Easy victory, right? Nope. Showing some of that last second panic stall, the Nets airballed three straight shots - 2 by Carter, one by Kidd, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and then Nocioni each hit baskets under pressure, Nocioni's being a long three that tied the game and forced overtime. Would the ghosts of seasons past haunt the Nets again this year?

No chance. With Kidd marshalling the troops, the nervousness of OT quickly dissipated when Wright again made a three for the first basket of OT. Even after Nocioni hit a jumper, the Nets came right back and found Wright for a drive to the hoop, Nocioni scored for the Bulls, Carter took an 'oop pass from Kidd (his 13th assist) and then after Ben Wallace was inexplicably left wide open for a dunk, RJ hit a runner and then nailed a huge three to open the lead to 6 and sink the Bulls hopes for the night.

That makes 12 straight losses for the Bulls at the CAA, I mean Izod, and with this win the Nets show the East that they're not exactly second tier. Contributions from almost the entire roster (only Sean Williams didn't play), clutch shooting from the most-maligned shooter on the team (Wright) and stellar play from the Big Three help the Nets to a Halloween treat. The Raptors are in on Friday, so no rest for the Nets, but here's to a big opening night victory.

Digital Readout
Wright Place - If you would have asked me who was most likely to get top billing in the first game of the season, about the last person on the Nets roster I would pick would be Wright. He was nothing short of amazing tonight - perhaps mostly because he did things we've not seen him do before (have confidence, shoot the three with success). Imagine if Wright becomes a mainstay of the rotation, AND plays in tight fourth quarters. That would be a boon to Netsfans, as his defense is already of quality. We salute you, former whipping boy (looks like I'll need to find a new one).
Drive To Success - Richard Jefferson gets kudos as well for outplaying Luol Deng. RJ took it strong to the hoop, was aggressive, and had his number called far more often than last season, all of which benefitted the Nets. And his defense was good, better than most of the rest of the Nets. Since Deng now gets all the press as the up and comer, well, shouldn't someone re-examine RJ's cred?
Time Passes Slowly - Oh, that brutal third quarter, where the Bulls about squished the Nets like a bug thanks to Gordon. Suddenly, they couldn't keep up with him, and they couldn't make shots of their own. The Bulls started to take advantage of Nenad Krstic as well, leaving his plus/minus an ugly -9, and the Nets looked more than a bit unsettled. But, to their credit, the Nets found a way to settle down, re-establish their game, and slug it out to win the fight. That alone says a lot about this year's team vs. last year's...
Time Warp - Despite the new dressings on the newly renamed Izod Center (without hockey, things don't seem as cramped), Joe can honestly report that the place wasn't that full (in fact, maybe half full) at tip off. Though fans filtered in throughout the first, there were still plenty of open seats. For a quality opponent on opening night, that's a crying shame, especially considering the basketball that was played tonight. Oh, there were ads everywhere - anything that wasn't nailed down - and instead of the Continental Airlines shootout, we had the roulette wheel spinning around the zipper message boards. Hmm. Freddie Jackson was the National Anthem and halftime act, and he made barely a ripple as well. But, if you watched it, you know that the likes of Gov. Corzine, Donald Trump, Chris Rock and JayZ were in the house...
Making Time - So we had defense (how about 7 blocked shots?)and strong performances from most of the Nets, but what about JKidd and VC? Kidd didn't attempt more than 4 shots, but his presence was felt in the way of 13 assists and 5 steals on defense. Carter again had questionable shot selection, missed badly several times, but still managed the 24, 9 and 6. Not quite impressive, but they've certainly had worse games.
Time For Bed - Did you catch sight of Jason Collins' hair? You would have thought that it was the hair of his opponent, Ben Wallace, the way it was all wild and standing up. Wallace, ironically known for that 'do, had neat cornrows. It was an interesting night for Twin, as he scored exactly zero points (ho-hum) but found himself playing the end game, as Krstic was likely gassed and Magloire was mostly ineffective (he didn't score,either, but managed to seal off the paint in the short time he was in there). I even saw him grab a rebound (but I also saw him on a bad turnover with pressure late in the game when the Nets needed to score).
Time For Magic - Did anyone else notice (thank you NBA for adding player +/- in each boxscore) that Boki Nachbar was +17 for the night? A good night in anyone's book, despite his 3- 9 shooting line.

Turning Back The Clock (And Not For Daylight Savings Time)
PDid it feel good for you, too, Netsfans? The Nets opening night treat turned into a trick for awhile, but thanks to the calming influence of Jason Kidd, the big time heroics of Antoine Wright and Richard Jefferson, and just enough defense to carry the day, the first night is in the books as a win. Showing fortitude they rarely showed late in games last season, the Nets had plenty of faults but much to build on by losing the lead but not the game. Hard work, lots of contributions, and good coaching will do that. The Bulls suffer the horror of their 12th straight East Rutherford loss, and with or without Kobe Bryant (were they distracted in the first half by the continual Bryant to Chicago rumors and the lack of contract extensions for Gordon and Deng?) they head out of town once again not knowing success. A splendid fright night indeed.
-Joe