Joe Netsfan Game x Game 3- Nets 93, Sixers 886

Hack and slash your way to a win

Nets 93, Sixers 88
Game 3 File
A very slow start for NJ down in Philadelphia, but a second half spark led by Jason Kidd's first triple double of the season (and 88 for the career) gets the Nets by the Sixers. VC finally returns from the ice box, RJ is again a force, and the Nets do just enough not to lose this one.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 2 - 1
Home Record: 1 - 1
Away Record: 1 - 0
Division Record: 1 - 1
Conf. Record: 2 - 1
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard Jefferson, 22.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 10.
• Rebounds: Jason Kidd, 14.
• Steals: Kidd and Jefferson each had 3.
• Turnovers: Jason Kidd, 4.
• Blocks: Malik Allen, 2.
• FG Percentage: Richard Jefferson, 50.0% (9 - 18). Malik Allen was 5 -10, Antoine Wright was 4 - 8, and Boki Nachbar was 3 - 6.

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 41.2%
• FT Percentage: 76.0%
• Rebounds: 47
• Rebound Differential: +3
• Turnovers: 19
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 14
• Bench points: 31
• Bench points Differential:-8
• Steals: 7
• Blocks: 5
• Points in the Paint: 28
• Double-Doubles: 1 (Jason Kidd: 16 points, 14 rebounds)
• Triple-Doubles: 1 (Jason Kidd: 16 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists).

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 5
• Nets Fast Break Points: 11
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 41.7% (1 - 5).
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: +6
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: -1 (Armstrong)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 1
• Triple Doubles this Season: 1
• Career Triple Doubles: 88

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Sixers Media:
Philadelphia Inquirer

Game 3: Nets 93, Sixers 88 – November 3, 2007
Grind House
As much as a win of any kind was needed tonight, this game in Philadelphia was grind-it-out, hack and slash your way to the win basketball. Thanks to Jason Kidd's triple double, Richard Jefferson's continued attacks on the paint, and the return of Vince Carter from cold storage in the second half, the Nets splattered their way to their first road win of the season.

This was not pretty basketball by any stretch of the imagination, but after a frustrating first quarter where again nothing seemed to go right for the Nets, Kidd took the ball and did something about it. Scoring 8 first quarter points as almost all of the early offense (the Nets only scored 17 for the quarter), Kidd watched again for the third straight game as the backups could do nothing with him on the bench. With sagging spirit and a host of unforced and forced errors to their credit, the Nets only started to catch fire when Kidd returned, and an 8 - 0 run gave them the lead for the first time. Jefferson had 10 points in the quarter as the Nets ended the half up by four.

Finally, the third quarter brought more excitement to the battle. With Nenad Krstic checking out of the lineup early in both the first and third quarters, the lineup of Kidd, Jefferson, Carter, Collins and Malik Allen exploded, with Carter (11 points), Jefferson (6 points) and Allen (8 points) combining to outscore the Sixers by two points. Ending the quarter on a 7 - 2 run gave the Nets a 10 point lead, one that looked certain to be put to the test in the fourth.

And the Sixers did not disappoint, unleashing a weapon they call Lou (don't call me Louis) Williams on the Nets. All he did was shake the foundation, slicing through the NJ defense to cause turnovers, easy scores and transition buckets, and send the faithful of Philly into chanting mode. After two bad spewing turnovers caused by Williams brought the Sixers to within two points, the Nets brought out their new grinder, Antoine Wright, who promptly scored on a tough inside reverse (and which gave Kidd his triple double), then got four free throws (two each from VC and RJ) to re-establish the lead. Although the Sixers would again creep to within three points, a huge Kidd three and another Wright bucket sealed the Sixers' fate.

The Nets got into the Grind House in Philly and did what they could to bring home a win. Give the Sixers credit, they refused to die mid-movie, but made it tough right to the end. After the absolute embarassment against the Raptors last evening, the Nets will more than take it.

Dulling Of The Senses
Three Bandidos - So it wasn't perfect, but at least all three of the Big Three played a factor (and a positive one at that) for the Nets for the first time all season. Richard Jefferson continues to be terrific, attacking the basket and doing the job defensively. He had 22 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a +12 rating, the highest on the team tonight. Jason Kidd of course set the tone, which you understood that he would after the humiliating defeat last night, with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists (plus 3 steals)for his 88th triple double. And Vince Carter finally found some aggression, coming out with guns blazing in the second half when the Nets were screaming for some offense, and though he still continues to struggle with his shot (he was 4 - 12), he was important in the Nets establishing some distance against an inferior team. He finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Thankfully, we at least know that they can do it...
Marching Through The Slop - Of course, all is not well in Netsland either. The second unit continues to struggle, and we now see signs that L. Frank won't be all that patient with guys if they don't produce. Kidd was brought back into the game because Darrell Armstrong was struggling to run the offense (and even giving it to Carter to handle was a bad move), and he wound up with about 36 minutes of PT. And Jamaal Magloire continues to look shaky, having another shot blocked, showing no ability to shed his defender inside, and overall looking like the slow kid on the playground trying to play with the athletes. Overall, the interior play has been lacking, and when Jason Collins plays extended minutes because he's the solid one, well, you know what you're getting. Boki Nachbar hasn't found his shot yet but still came up big with two large threes in the fourth to keep the Nets from teetering on the brink.
Grinding It Out, Indeed - This new offense doesn't seem quite right yet, does it? More motion? Haven't truly seen it yet, I don't think. Less isolations for Carter? Absolutely, but it seems to have thrown him into a funk of sorts, as if he can't figure out how to get his shot. The middle is a wasteland, especially when Magloire is in there, and there are too many turnovers (there were 19 more tonight) that appear to be born out of a lack of familiarity with teammates (which is to be expected in Game 3). Hopefully, it all works itself out.
Heavy Weapon - In three games, Richard Jefferson has yet to miss a free throw (that's 25 - 25, if you're keeping score at home). Now that's impressive. And very helpful, since the Nets have long been up and down with free throws in the Kidd era.
Battle Of Wounded Knee - Nenad Krstic, playing his first back-to-back without restriction for the first time since the knee injury, played only 16 minutes. He still looks like he needs to get in game shape, and think less, so if the Nets can survive for now without thirty minutes plus from Krstic, they should be in good shape when he finally rounds into form. No point in rushing him now. Hopefully, they can get more from Magloire.
Armed Sidekick - Let's put in a plug for a great second half by Malik Allen on both ends of the floor. Though he struggled in the first quarter, so did the rest of the Nets. If they get 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks from him every game the Nets will be thrilled (especially since they're getting nothing from Magloire - ).

Film Has Been Edited For Television
So they're not quite in playoff-ready form, but tonight, thanks to some stellar efforts from Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and VInce Carter, plus Malik Allen and others, the Nets ring up another all-important divisional victory over the Sixers. Yes, this should have been a much easier win, but all in all, if the Nets can take advantage of their early season favorable schedule (8 of 10 at home), they can hopefully work out some of the kinks before they hit the road. After all, the NBA isn't a Quentin Tarantino flick, in which there's non-stop action end to end for the entire length of the run. If you can survive the grind-it-out moments in the NBA, you can get pretty far. Which is all the Nets should be trying to do.
-Joe