Joe Netsfan Game x Game 26 - Nets 107, Heat 103 OT

A present for Netsfans

Nets 107, Heat 103 OT
Game 26 File
The Nets get a huge win in OT at Miami after coming back from a big Dwayne Wade third quarter to nearly steal one in the fourth. But after Udonis Haslem sent the game to OT, the Nets finally get the endgame right and come home with an early Christmas win, one that was much needed..
• Box Score

Nets Record: 11 - 15
Home Record: 5 - 10
Away Record: 6 - 5
Division Record: 2 - 5
Conf. Record: 8 - 9
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Vince Carter, 31.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 10.
• Rebounds: Jason Kidd, 11.
• Steals: Kidd, Carter, S. Williams, Allen, Wright and Armstrong each had 1.
• Turnovers: Jason Kidd, 5.
• Blocks: Josh Boone, 2.
• FG Percentage: Malik Allen 81.8% (9 - 11).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 46.0%
• FT Percentage: 76.7%
• Rebounds: 50
• Rebound Differential: +8
• Turnovers: 18
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 13
• Bench points: 25
• Bench points Differential:+6
• Steals: 6
• Blocks: 2
• Points in the Paint: 46
• Double-Doubles: 1 (Jason Kidd: 11 rebounds, 10 assists)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 4
• Nets Fast Break Points: 12
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 28.6% (2 - 7)
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: -3
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: +7 (M. Williams, Armstrong)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 12
• Triple Doubles this Season: 6
• Career Triple Doubles:93

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 26: Nets 107, Heat 103 OT – December 20, 2007
Christmas In Miami
We should all live so long, seeing the Nets beat Dwyane Wade in Miami. From Joe's mouth to God's ears, the Nets survived another unsteady night in Miami, finding the strength to survive a game-tying shot off a broken play by Udonis Haslem to send the game into overtime and bring home an early Christmas present back from Miami. Yes, we can celebrate now - a win under any circumstances is a present to every Netsfan we can't turn down.

Though goodness knows that grinch Wade tried to take all the gifts away. A largely uneven effort in the first half in which the Nets again seemed to wrap any Heat players with perimeter defense led to a three point deficit at the half. Wade was good but relatively (for him) quiet, as Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter, with some unexpected help from Malik Allen, carried the Nets up to halftime.

But in that third quarter, a seemingly grim lump of coal in the Heat stockings was turned to pure gold, as Wade shook off a body blow and takedown by Shaq, who rolled into Wade as they both were defending RJ, and went on an absolute tear in the third. His whisper soft jumpers and aggressive drives to the hoop adding up to a 17 point quarter and a 4 point lead through three, as the Nets (and especially RJ) couldn't keep him in front of them, nor figure out what he was going to do next. Expect a drive? He'd pull up for a jumper. Think he's going to pull up and pop? Well, he'd put it into overdrive and score at will. All of this seemed to be adding up to a dismal time in Miami for the Nets.

Luckily for the Nets, Carter started getting warmed up late in the third, and despite more troubles for NJ in getting stops of any kind, the Nets continued to battle, eventually tying the score with some defense and a Malik Allen jumper (he was deadly all night, and scored a Net-high 18 points). Short-lived, though, as two quick, consecutive threes by the Heat, and suddenly stagnant offense, put the Nets out in a manger once again. After Carter stopped the madness, yet another three by Miami made this a seven point game with less than five minutes to play. Time for a trip to Carnegie Deli, for sure.

These Nets, though, must have decided to rip open whatever gifts they could scavenge from the Heat at that very moment, because things started to turn NJ's way. Jefferson and Carter did battle with Wade, and after RJ and Carter scored (VC had a three), Wade hit a jumper, and then RJ came back with a score and a foul, putting the Nets down one with less than three to play. Now, with Jason Kidd having switched to Wade in the fourth quarter and at least supplying some attempt at defending him, Wade misfired on a jumper, Allen banged home yet another jumper and the Nets had themselves a lead. Even after the Nets tried to hand over their gifts to the Heat (an RJ turnover, a Kidd turnover), Vince Carter appeared to bail the Nets out with a huge three with 10 seconds to play after two Wade free throws had given the Heat a one point edge. Now, up two, the Nets needed stop, and essentially they got it, denying Wade anything, with Wade breaking off his play and getting the ball to Haslem, who bobbled, picked it up, and fired, hitting nothing but net and sending the game into overtime.

And in the overtime, it was all Nets, after a bad pickpocket by Wade on RJ for a score. The Nets then started playing defense, and after Allen banged home the last of his open jumpers, the Nets would never trail again. Excellent defense on the Heat, Shaq fouling out, and aggressive play by RJ and VC helped to end this one with warm feelings of a Christmas in Miami.

Oh, these Nets needed a win. That it comes so close to Christmas, with the Nets actually coming back in the fourth quarter and playing some defense, could almost be described as a Christmas miracle.

Santa Please Bring Me Something Good
Wrapped and Ready To Go – So, this Net team CAN play defense after all. Though it was still questionable through most of this one, with Dwyane Wade killing the Nets repeatedly, that fourth quarter brought the kind of defense the Nets used to play. Jason Kidd was terrific on Wade in the fourth quarter and OT, and made Richard Jefferson's defense of Wade look a bit foolish in retrospect. Kidd stayed on Wade like glue, trusting the help defense, and it worked more often than not. And it was contageous, as even Vince Carter picked up his defense late. If they're going to do anything, as we've said repeatedly, it has to start with defense.
Gift Certificates –Some fine play all around by the superstars. Carter was hugely clutch in the fourth quarter, and somehow he made an awkward shot (a three, no less) with 10 seconds to go, saving the Nets bacon. Richard Jefferson, though he's still suffering from some fumble-itis lately, was big, taking it inside (where Carter can't or won't go for the most part, likely because of the lack of explosion from the repeated ankle tweaks) and getting to the line. Jason Kidd was also a big part of this win, not only defensively, but offensively as well (only 5 points, but 11 rebounds and 10 assists). And what more can be said about the terrific Dwyane Wade, who almost won this game by himself, with an incredible stat line (41 points, 5 boards, 6 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks), even after being rolled over by Shaq. This was actually a fun game to watch, from two teams that haven't exactly been stellar this year.
Extra Gift – Great performance tonight by Malik Allen. running those pick and pops to perfection and nailing his jumper. Like has been said a million times already, the Nets need role players to make a difference. Malik was 18 and 7 tonight, which is more than anyone could have expected.
Broken Glass – Antoine Wright went down with an ankle injury at the end of the third, adding to the growing list of ankle Injuries on this roster (Boki Nachbar, who sat out again, plus Carter's ever-tweaked ankles).
Big Presents - The front line, was strong again, even with Sean Williams exhibiting foul trouble early and often. Josh Boone did well with Shaq in the second half, while Allen handled much of Williams' responsiblities. A horrible two minute stint for Jamaal Magloire (he was yanked by Frank quickly) makes us wonder what his role really is. He was made to play against Shaq, so if he doesn't play against the legitimate bigs, who does he play against?
Grab Bag - The Nets were strong on the boards, grabbing 8 more (and they had a whopping 20 offensive rebounds, led by Boone's 6), they got to the line more often than the Heat, and they again scored a boatload of points in the paint (46), so these are signs that the Nets play was pretty strong (and the Heat's pretty weak). Of course, the Heat seemed to get any shot they wanted for 3 quarters, and the Nets also handed out free throws like water, but a win is a win...
Big Diesel Slowing At The Station - If Josh Boone can play Shaq to a standstill, well, we wonder what the Big Fella has left. Won't be easy in Miami, with Alonzo Mourning going down with the knee injury.

Presents For Good Little Girls and Boys
A warm evening in Miami, at least for Netsfans, as Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Jason Kidd, Malik Allen and Josh Boone get the Nets a pre-Christmas victory treat. Oh, the stockings were starting to become threadbare, and everyone close to getting a lump of coal from Rod Thorn, but the Nets persevered and closed this one out. Finally, a glimpse of some defense (of course the captain has to spearhead it) and some control in the endgame, plus big play from the other folks besides the Big Three that the Nets need if they are ever to get anywhere this year. Oh, that Dwyane Wade is something special, but this Heat team ain't much, so don't get too excited. But it's something to build on, and hopefully it's contageous.
- Joe