Joe Netsfan Game x Game 10 - Heat 91, Nets 87

This one was RJ's

Heat 91, Nets 87
Game 10 File
The losing streak hits five as the Nets are sloppily competitive against the Heat, but Richard Jefferson misses a chance to tie the game with less than 10 seconds to play, and Miami gets the win. The Nets have 27 turnovers, and a 12 point second quarter dooms them yet again. Off to the West Coast...
• Box Score

Nets Record: 4 - 6
Home Record: 3 - 5
Away Record: 1 - 1
Division Record: 1 - 3
Conf. Record: 4 - 5
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Sean Williams, 22.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 15.
• Rebounds: Kidd and Williams each had 8.
• Steals: Kidd and Williams each had 2.
• Turnovers: Jason Kidd, 7.
• Blocks: Sean Williams, 2.
• FG Percentage: Sean Williams, 63.6% (7 - 11).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 46.6%
• FT Percentage: 78.9%
• Rebounds: 39
• Rebound Differential: +10
• Turnovers: 27
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 14
• Bench points: 12
• Bench points Differential:-24
• Steals: 5
• Blocks: 3
• Points in the Paint: 28
• Double-Doubles: 1 (Jason Kidd: 16 points, 15 assists)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 4
• Nets Fast Break Points: 13
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 40.0% (4 - 10).
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: +8
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: -12 (Gill)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 5
• Triple Doubles this Season: 2
• Career Triple Doubles: 89

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

Heat Media:
Miami Herald | Heat
Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel | Heat

Game 9: Heat 91, Nets 87 – November 17, 2007
Wade-ing For Jefferson
It was all there for the Nets last night, despite playing fast and too loose with the ball all night - down by 2 with Heat superstar Dwyane Wade missing two free throws and 10 seconds remaining for NJ to tie the game. A great play was thrown out there by Lawrence Frank, a dump down low to Richard Jefferson streaking toward the basket. RJ took the Jason Kidd pass over Penny Hardaway, and with three defenders closing in on him, blew an essentially uncontested layup, and once again the Nets take the home loss. The losing streak stands at five as the Nets saddle up and move to the West Coast.

By no means was that the only reason the Nets lost this game, just the last one. This one started off completely different from many we've seen lately, starting with lineup changes. With Jamaal Magloire and Sean Williams starting at center and power forward in place of Nenad Krstic and Jason Collins, the Nets opened up on fire from the field. Going 7 - 7 from the opening tip, the Nets ripped off a quick 10 point lead behind 7 Kidd assists and two pretty Williams dunks, but the Nets had already committed 5 turnovers during the same span.

Things came undone from there, and the Heat quickly got back in the game behind Wade and a big lift from their bench (Alonzo Mourning, Penny Hardaway and Dequan Cook. The Heat caught up early in the second quarter as the Nets stopped making shots (after starting 7 - 7, they went 3 - 15 the rest of the way) and continued to turn the ball over while under the control of Eddie Gill. And again things came completely undone in the last four minutes of quarter number two, as Hardaway, Wade and Mourning combined to push the Heat to a 10 point halftime lead. The Nets big claim: a first half 20 turnovers.

At least things were different in this one, as the Nets competed hard in the second half, erased not one but two double digit deficits, and with Kidd and Williams taking up the case as RJ disappeared, the Nets battled back with a 12 - 4 run to get it to 83 - 81 with 3:32 to play. In that span Williams took over the game, making plays with Kidd and getting to the free throw line, but then it was Wade's turn. Wade sandwiched 4 free throws around a Jefferson layup to keep things at four before the final sequence.

First, Kidd knocked down a fadeaway jumper after Wade misfired, cutting the lead to two. Mourning missed inside, and the Nets then blew their first chance to tie when Kidd set up Collins, who was fouled and missed both free throws (this is news?). With 14 seconds to go, Jefferson missed a layup, but Williams cleaned it up with a put-back dunk and it was a two point game with 11 seconds. Wade was then fouled and gave the Nets a gift - two missed free throws, setting the stage for the Nets with those 10 seconds to play. On the final Net chance, it appeared that RJ had position, Udonis Haslem touched the rim (which would have been defensive interference) and possibly RJ was fouled by Hardaway. But no matter, as RJ missed from point-blank, Wade ran the length of the court, scored and was fouled, and the Nets had their fifth straight loss.

At least this one was competitive, but 27 turnovers won't get it done in any basketball league, from rec through high school, college and pros. The Nets need to regroup, build on this effort, and give it their all next week on the left coast.

A Penny, A Shaq And Wade
Penny For Your Thoughts? - You know who made the difference for the Heat tonight? No, not Wade, not Shaq, although they both had more than their fair share of moments. It was Penny Hardaway, who seemingly gave the Heat a lift every time they needed one. Looking nothing like the player he was in 2005, Penny shot 6 - 6 for 16 points, and his 4 threes were momentum killers each and every time he hit them.
Many Unhappy Returns - No one wins with 27 turnovers. No one, in any league. The Nets had far too many mistakes of the kind where they try to do more than they're capable of. They also made about every dumb mistake in the book, and left themselves open to easy steals by not protecting the ball. Too bad, because the Nets shot a helluva lot better, and if they had kept the turnovers under 20 they would have won this one, easily.
Sean Williams - One night after getting three fouls in less than a minute against Dwight Howard, Sean Williams started, played well on both sides of the ball, and racked up a career high 22 points feeding off of Kidd. Of course we love the way he blocks shots and runs the floor, but watch him do other things as well - shoot free throws with confidence, make moves in the lane that belie his inexeperience, and of course, finish plays. He was also a team-high +10. Kidd loves him already, and his two setups in the first quarter that gave The Freak 2 dunks were fun to watch, a la the Kenyon Martin days. Big, bright future for him - now that he's in the starting lineup, will he ever come out.
Let's Talk About Everyone Else - Much better effort tonight from all. Kidd was Kidd, with 16 points, 15 assists and 8 rebounds, close to a trip-doub and he had that look in his eye like he refused to lose. He was more than partially responsible with 7 turnovers. He needed more help, though. RJ struggled though found ways to contribute, with 18 points, but his shot is off and now he's missing the easy ones. Jamaal Magloire made his first start and acquitted himself with good defense on Shaq and 7 rebounds. Antoine Wright was better as well, playing tough defense on Wade (Wade shot 4 - 17, as much about his rust as anything Wright did, but we'll take it) and getting 14 points in the flow of the game. He was -7 though, and for that you can blame Wade. Not much from the bench, except a combined -42 in the plus minus, so perhaps there are still major issues. Nenad Krstic continues to struggle (he shot 2 - 7 despite wide open shots), Eddie Gill hasn't been good his first two games, and even poor Jason Collins wears some goat horns even by being a reserve by missing the two free throws late (and what was he doing in the game at that point? Defense, I get it, but...).
Home Is Where the Heart Is Supposed To Be - Weird game for a home game. The Nets started out with energy and intensity, thanks to Kidd, then lost that for much of two quarters before finding it again later in the third. Not supposed to happen on your home court, but this is one very mentally confused team right now. With 8 of their first 10 at home, no one expected a 3 - 5 record at the Izod.

Time To Look Forward, Not Back
So this easy part of the Nets schedule is history, and 4 - 6 is nowhere near where anyone envisioned it, especially after a 4 - 1 start. Tonight, you blame Dwyane Wade, Shaq, Penny Hardaway and the rest of the Heat misers, but overall, this has been a team failure for NJ. Far too many turnovers all season long, very unsteady shooting, and now the injuries are taking their toll, but in the NBA there are no good excuses. The Nets need to find players, and combinations, that they can trust on the floor, but when you leader has 7 miscues, well, it all starts from there. Let's hit the road, get Vince Carter back, build on the energy and momentum from this one, and try to split the four games on the road trip. With the Jazz, Trail Blazers, Sonics and Lakers all upcoming, it's more than doable, but the Nets need better and more consistent effort starting Monday night in Salt Lake. Good luck.
-Joe