Joe Netsfan Game x Game 28 - Pistons 101, Nets 83

O-fer the home court...

Pistons 101, Nets 83
Game 28 File
The Nets keep good company for a half, actually leading at one point,but the second half is all Pistons as the Nets drop another one to the East Elite. That makes 4 losses by a total of 74 points to the Pistons and Celtics.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 12 - 16
Home Record: 6 - 11
Away Record: 6 - 5
Division Record: 2 - 5
Conf. Record: 8 - 10
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Vince Carter, 21.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 13.
• Rebounds: Josh Boone, 8.
• Steals: Sean Williams, 2.
• Turnovers: Richard Jefferson, 7.
• Blocks: Nachbar, Allen and Collins each had 1.
• FG Percentage: Vince Carter 72.7% (8 - 11).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 46.2%
• FT Percentage: 80.0%
• Rebounds: 35
• Rebound Differential: +5
• Turnovers: 17
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 11
• Bench points: 19
• Bench points Differential:-9
• Steals: 6
• Blocks: 3
• Points in the Paint: 34
• Double-Doubles: 0
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 5
• Nets Fast Break Points: 6
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 0.0% (0 - 8)
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: -18
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: Even (M. Williams)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 13
• Triple Doubles this Season: 7
• Career Triple Doubles:94

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 28: Pistons 101, Nets 83 – December 26, 2007
Aftermath After The Half
Well, as the saying goes, the Nets got it half right. No jokes about it being the wrong half, of course, but the Nets were totally dismantled, piece by piece, by the Detroit Pistons tonight in the second half after a strong first half. Looking like the cat that swallowed the hairball in the second half, the Nets drop yet another home game and prove again beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are nowhere near the elite level in the Eastern Conference.

No, it wasn't particularly close in that second half, where the Pistons used a 15 - 4 opening burst to separate from the suddenly hapless Nets. Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton abused Jason Kidd and Vince Carter on the offensive end, and the entire Pistons squad locked up the Nets by doubling Carter and turning Kidd into a shooter, with the usual lack of results. It got away quickly, and that's the real bummer of it all - a first half that wasn't nearly perfect but more than matched what the Pistons were bringing was all but buried in one six minute stretch of the third.

Carter got things going early, and despite the usual butterfingers shown again by the Nets (Richard Jefferson was the chief culprit tonight, with 7 of the 17 total turnovers), the Nets were in this one. Josh Boone and Sean Williams were holding their own, and the Nets actually owned a six point lead in the second quarter before Boone and Williams were rotated out for foul protection and the Pistons quickly zipped off a 7 - 0 run and closed the quarter up by a point.

That was as good as it got, as Kidd turned in an o-fer despite passing Gary Payton for sixth place in the NBA all-time assist leaders, Jefferson couldn't quite keep it together, and Carter was erased by double teams. What was left was easy pickin's for the Pistons, as the Nets couldn't figure out how to get a stop, any stop, in the second half.
So, Netsfans, until Nenad Krstic returns, or the defense suddenly morphs into, well, the Pistons defense of tonight, this is no more than a seven or eight seed in the playoffs, if they're lucky.

Second Chance
Seconds, Anyone? – Did anyone pay attention to the thorough dismantling provided by the Pistons in the second half? Well, Joe sure did. What defensive intensity thrown up against the Nets in the second half, completely erasing a hot Vince Carter (he took only 5 shots in the second half) from the game and forcing the cold, cold Jason Kidd to shoot. With Richard Jefferson also contained (thanks to Tayshaun Prince), the Nets were stuck looking for an offense that didnt' exist. And, despite the lack of complete superstars, the Pistons methodically ripped the Nets defense apart, finding open looks at every turn (they shot 54% for the game) and running away from NJ with ease in about the first six minutes of the second half. The Elite beats the downtrodden, once again.
Half Nelson – But if you were paying attention, the Nets' first half was a pretty good effort (of course, we didn't know the Pistons weren't really trying...), with Carter finding openings to do some damage, and Kidd feeding everyone for easy scores. Of course, the turnover train continued to derail, but overall, the ball movement and shot selection were good. And the defensive intensity was also excellent in the first half, after the Pistons started 6 for 6 from the floor. The Nets got back into it by forcing the Pistons into tough shots and it actually looked like the Nets of old for a moment. Of course, a lack of a second quarter closeout quickly erased their efforts, and the third quarter destroyed them, but it's nice to know they can play better, especially at home.
Half Brained – Is Richard Jefferson feeling like he's got to do too much? We certainly are big fans of RJ, but his fit of fumblitits (he had 7 turnovers tonight) and his overall lack of control with the basketball lately has been alarming. RJ is a top 5 scorer in the NBA this year, and it's all been good, but he needs to be smarter with the basketball (as do all of the Nets, who are second in the league in turnovers committed at last check).
Half Committed – Another 0 -4 night from Josh Boone from the free throw line, who otherwise was good with 12 points and 8 boards. How much work does Josh need to do to make it to 50% (he's below 30% right now)? If he gets that right, the Nets will be really on to something.
Half In The Bag - Still waiting for Marcus Williams to shake off the rust from the injury layoff. He looks like he's on the verge, but...Not much else to report from the rest of the bench either, as Boki Nachbar was the big story, and mostly during garbage time. The Nets need more...(and yet another DNP for Jamaal Magloire - you would think he could bang bodies with the likes of Jason Maxiell, but...).

Half And Half
The first half was like cream, the second like curdled milk, and largely, it was a full Pistons team effort that shut down the Nets in the backend of this one with ferocious defense and a meticulous offense. Chauncy Billups, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, and Tayshaun Prince were more than enough to snuff out the Nets' dream of beating someone of substance. So, for all the excitement over a two game win streak, it's back to the drawing board in East Rutherford before Friday night's game against the Wiz. Unfortunately, there aren't many changes that can be made to the current roster, so improvement will have to come from within. Right now, that's a bit of a scary thought.
- Joe