Joe Netsfan Game x Game 29 - Nets 109, Wiz 106

Worth the wait...

Nets 109, Wiz 106
Game 29 File
A third quarter surge by Richard Jefferson digs the Nets out of a hole, and with large contributions from Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Sean Williams, Boki Nachbar and RJ, the Nets finish in fine fashion with playmaking and defense to get the home win.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 13 - 16
Home Record: 7 - 11
Away Record: 6 - 5
Division Record: 2 - 5
Conf. Record: 9 - 10
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard Jefferson, 26.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 12.
• Rebounds: Sean Williams, 10.
• Steals: Bostjan Nachbar, 3.
• Turnovers: Jason Kidd, 4.
• Blocks: Sean Williams, 5.
• FG Percentage: Sean Williams, 60.0% (6 - 10). Malik Allen was 3 - 4.

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 43.9%
• FT Percentage: 93.5%
• Rebounds: 40
• Rebound Differential: -4
• Turnovers: 9
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 11
• Bench points: 20
• Bench points Differential:-2
• Steals: 5
• Blocks: 8
• Points in the Paint: 34
• Double-Doubles: 2 (Jason Kidd: 20 points, 12 assists; Sean Williams: 14 points, 10 rebounds)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 5
• Nets Fast Break Points: 14
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 37.5 (6 - 16)
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: +4
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: -1 (M. Williams)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 14
• Triple Doubles this Season: 7
• Career Triple Doubles:94

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Wizards Media:
Washington Post | Wizards

Game 29: Nets 109, Wiz 106 – December 28, 2007
Better Late Than Never
While it didn't appear that the Nets were waiting for Richard Jefferson to show up in their game against the Wiz tonight, it sure helped when he did. RJ scored 21 points in the third quarter, keying a surge after the Nets appeared to be leaving the station once again without a win at the Izod. With much help from friends Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Sean Williams and Boki Nachbar, the Nets nail down the win with a tough second half and hopefully put to rest for the moment the disappointment of the loss to the Pistons.

With Jason Kidd in charge early, apparently seeking to atone for his shooting misdeeds against Detroit, the Captain scored 10 of the Nets' first 19 points en route to a 5 point lead six minutes in. But the inability to get stops, especially on Caron Butler, who destroyed the Nets last time, was starting to cause pain, and with a typical end to the second quarter (lack of stops, stagnant offense), the Nets found themselves again staring at a halftime deficit at home. Jefferson was getting outplayed by Butler (Butler had 18 first half points, RJ 5), rookie Nick Young was having a big impact, and the Nets were starting to look like it was getting late, early.

RJ was going to get going, no matter what, it was clear. Letting Carter carry the action for the first two minutes of the third, Jefferson then went into attack mode, and it was a joy to behold. Scoring 21 points over, around and through the teeth of the Wiz defense, getting to the line 9 times (and making all nine), RJ worked hard to get the Nets back into it after they had fallen behind by nine just three minutes into the third. You even got the sense that if Lawrence Frank would have asked RJ to run through a brick wall, he would have done so, that's how determined he was to change this game, take some of the momentum from the Wiz and make sure that Caron Butler didn't get all the credit in this one.

Whatever it was, it worked. The Nets took a one point lead into the fourth quarter, and from there it was a wrestling match. Caron Butler once again came alive (as all good scorers do), but this time it wasn't Jefferson but Carter, Boki, Sean Williams, and Kidd to do the dirty work. It was tied at 95 when Kidd hit a three, and then after two Antawn Jamison free throws, another three. With a four point lead, Butler then responded with a three of his own, cutting the lead back to one, but then Carter the distributor went to work, sucking in the defense for an easy Williams jam, and then doing the exact same thing again. Kidd added two free throws, and with a 7 point lead, the rest was just a sprint to run out the clock.

So that makes three wins out of their last four games, and while we've seen this before, hopefully the Nets can turn the page into 2008 and keep things rolling. Another game in snowy Milwaukee is upcoming, though, and the Nets would love to close out 2007 with a win before celebrating a new start on January 1.

Time Keeps On Ticking
Big Three Big – About time the Big Three all got it together in the same game. Jason Kidd (20 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds), Richard Jefferson (26 points), and Vince Carter (24 points, 7 assists) all played major roles in this one - from Kidd setting the tone (and making some buckets) early, Carter filling in with his usual assorted flourishes off the dribble, and Jefferson with the third quarter attack on the paint. Best of all, all three stepped up their games in the second half just as it seemed the game might be starting to slip away. Kidd also passed Kerry Kittles for third place on the Nets scoring list - is this a guy you want to trade away?
Late Night Rejects – We don't it lost in the shuffle how Sean Williams was also huge tonight, with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and his first career double double. Williams was a major part of that fourth quarter end-game finish, controlling the paint and scoring (he had 8 in the fourth). He's looking more and more like a guy that will be part of the Nets for a long, long time - hopefully they resist the urge to trade him for an older player. He even managed to block out the pain of a turned ankle to perform his magic in the fourth...just the kind of player the Nets need...
Second Half Seriousness – Once again, a Net opponent at home was pretty much getting any shot they wanted, at least until the fourth quarter. The Nets finally got some stops late, and that went a long way towards this victory. Both teams were hot shooting from the start, but the Wiz came up empty on six straight possessions after Butler's three, thanks to the Nets amping up the defense. It can be done, apparently...
Late Seat Fillers – For the last seven-plus minutes of the game, the players on the floor were Kidd, Carter, Jefferson, Sean Williams and Boki Nachbar. Nice closeout by that bunch, clamping down on Butler and Nick Young and Antawn Jamison. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come?
That's The Way The Ball Bounces - For the first time all season long, the Nets took care of the basketball, committing a season-low nine turnovers. Thankfully, most were by the point guard trying to get things done, so aside from the usual over-eager-playmaking, the Nets held on and got things done. And when you keep the turnovers low, and you make your free throws (the Nets were 29- 31 from the line), you usually get the W.

Waiting For Godot (Or Krstic)
The Nets pick up a big win at home against the Wiz thanks to Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, Vince Carter, Sean Williams and Boki Nachbar, plus some timely defense. While the Nets are starting to look like a team that gives a damn, with energy and enthusiam finally taking the place of lethergy and carelessnesss, they still have a long way to go to compete against the NBA elite, and even they know it. But they also know that it begins with signs of the little things getting done, like taking care of the basketball, making your free throws, and being led by the stars in the lineup. All of those things came together tonight. Now, if the Nets would only stop wondering what things would be like with Nenad Krstic in the lineup and just play the games, it would be something to watch...Krstic will be back some time in January, apparently, in case you were still wondering, but I can't imagine him making a big difference for awhile longer...
- Joe