Joe Netsfan Game x Game 18 - Pistons 118, Nets 95

Getting ready to run

Pistons 118, Nets 95
Game 17 File
Unable to hang with the big dogs after a quarter, the Pistons go on a tear while the Nets can do nothing but watch Detroit execute relentlessly. The result is the Nets are outclassed in a huge second half by Detoit and have a long way to go if they want to be in the upper crust of the East.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 8 - 9
Home Record: 4 - 6
Away Record: 4 - 3
Division Record: 2 - 3
Conf. Record: 5 - 6
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Vince Carter, 22.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 16.
• Rebounds: Sean Williams, 8.
• Steals: Jason Kidd, 3.
• Turnovers: Sean Williams, 3.
• Blocks: Antoine Wright, 2.
• FG Percentage: Malik Allen, 62.5% (5 - 8).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 45.5%
• FT Percentage: 95.2%
• Rebounds: 34
• Rebound Differential: -4
• Turnovers: 13
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 8
• Bench points: 32
• Bench points Differential:-17
• Steals: 7
• Blocks: 2
• Points in the Paint: 32
• Double-Doubles: 0
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 4
• Nets Fast Break Points: 13
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 33.3% (2 - 6).
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: -16
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: -7 (Gill)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 8
• Triple Doubles this Season: 4
• Career Triple Doubles:91

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

Pistons Media:
Detroit Free Press | Pistons
Detroit News | Pistons

Game 17: Pistons 118, Nets 95 – December 2, 2007
Horsepower
This was Straight Eight, Big Block horsepower at its finest tonight at the Palace at Auburn Hills. Unfortunately, it was the Pistons who completely ran over the struggling Nets, taking a fine running machine and plugging in some spare parts, then tearing away from NJ. If the Nets thought they could race to the top of the East, they have another thing coming.

After a competitve first quarter that saw the Nets briefly take a five point lead and found the teams tied at 27, the Detroit bench completely overran the Nets bench, and even when order was restored by the starters, a finishing kick of 7 - 0 to end the second quarter put the Nets down by ten. The Nets were powerless to stop the acceleration of the Pistons on offense, and they weren't missing shots, while the Nets couldn't seem to get within 20 feet of the basket. Harassing poor Richard Jefferson, the Nets were sputtering, and in need of a halftime tuneup.

But it only got worse from there. Running over and around the Nets like they were standing still, the Pistons didn't miss much, while the Nets were having trouble looking at the basket, and with yet another 7 - 0 run to end the third quarter, it was a 20 point garbage time affair. Running like that well-oiled machine, the Pistons, even after their fourth game in five nights, simply didn't let up, the Nets couldn't respond, and this one was long past over.

Wow, do the Nets have a lot of work to do. This wasn't the Sonics or Sixers they were facing, and they completely couldn't keep up with the machine. The East is pretty wide open after the Celtics, but the Pistons certainly look like they will be a force come playoff time.

The Nets can only hope to get their game off the blocks, and soon, or else the purge will begin.

Garage Kept
Only One Owner –Man, it seems like this group of Pistons has been around forever, doesn't it? But they still get it done, and now they have some capable young help in Jason Maxiell, who was absolute hell inside for the Pistons (he had a double double of 18 points and 11 boards in only 26 minutes). They were able to do almost anything they wanted against the Net defense, which in and of itself is a scary thought. As for the Nets, well, at times they didn't look like they had a clue against the ferocious Piston defense, one that included half court traps, zones, and even some serious shot blocking. Credit the Pistons for unleashing their bench as well, which played as well if not better than the starters, taking the game in the second quarter and not giving the Nets a second of breathing room. One last Piston thought - they are so good at what they do, and so efficient, that they only turned the ball over 8 times all games (I think there were 2 Piston t/o's in the first half).
Lube Job – Oh, the Nets did everything they could to help the Pistons out as well. How many easy baskets did the Pistons have (probably a good 20 or more) vs. how many did the Nets have (maybe 5)? It was a serious mismatch for the Nets, as Richard Jefferson in particular was again finding it tough going (and not able to get foul calls, as well as having 3 shots blocked inside). Why is it that the Nets are unable to get easy baskets for themselves this year? Have they become easy to defend?
Oil Leak –Again, another no-show by the bench until garbage time. Boki Nachbar continues to struggle with his shot, Antoine Wright had serious issues all evening long on both sides of the ball (he shot 3 - 12, and he was a team high -22 with his time on the floor), Sean Williams had some good (8 rebounds) and mostly bad (-19, 0 blocks), and Eddie Gill continues to pour gasoline on any fire that happens on his watch. Only Josh Boone could say he gave a good effort, and even there he was hopelessly overmatched on the defensive end.
Head Mechanic – What is poor Lawrence Frank to do? He's got plenty of able defenders, but once things get physical inside, the Nets seem to fall apart. They don't like to face the big, bad Pistons now, and it shows. It must be in their heads, or else how do you explain the puzzled looks on the Nets faces, as if they couldn't comprehend how this could happen to them? They're getting outplayed and outmatched, but now they seem to be getting outcoached as well. The Nets also seem to be trying to make too many passes and do too much, probably because they can never seem to get the easy baskets. When the going got tough, the Nets turned and ran. This is a serious problem that L. Frank's going to have to try to fix. Why not get Jamaal "DNP" Magloire some playing time?

Motor City Madmen
They've been together for awhile now, but Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and Rip Hamilton still make it look easy. They were unstoppable at times, and the Nets found out that they have much more work to do if they want to hang around in the East. If this was a speed qualifier, well, the Nets failed miserably, never getting it up to highway speed from the second quarter on. The lack of execution on offense and the complete lack of stops on defense showed Netsfans that things aren't even up to .500 right now. Another back-to-back coming up, this time Tuesday and Wednesday against the Cavs and the Knicks, and we'll see how the Nets again respond.
-Joe