Joe Netsfan Game x Game 42 - Warriors 121, Nets 119

Still beating, but not healthily

Warriors 121, Nets 119
Game 42 File
A good effort, but with no results, as the Warriors go on a 22 - 0 run to retake the lead in the fourth, only to see the Nets then go on a 12 -2 run to tie the game before GS wins it in the end. The Nets are again horrific defensively, but a poor endgame dooms what could have been a victory.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 18 - 24
Home Record: 9 - 14
Away Record: 9 - 10
Division Record: 2 - 7
Conf. Record: 13 - 13
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard Jefferson, 34.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 12.
• Rebounds: Josh Boone, 17.
• Steals: Kidd, Carter and Boone each had 2.
• Turnovers: Vince Carter, 4.
• Blocks: None.
• FG Percentage: Sean Williams, 69.2% (9 - 13).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 42.7%
• FT Percentage: 72.5%
• Rebounds: 60
• Rebound Differential: +20
• Turnovers: 17
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 12
• Bench points: 23
• Bench points Differential:-3
• Steals: 7
• Blocks: 0
• Points in the Paint: 58
• Double-Doubles: 1 (Josh Boone: 21 points, 17 rebounds)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 4
• Nets Fast Break Points: 22
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 20.0% (2 - 10)
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: Even
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: -2 (M. Williams)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 23
• Triple Doubles this Season: 10
• Career Triple Doubles:97

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

Warriors Media:
San Francisco Chronicle | Warriors

Game 42: Warriors 121, Nets 119 – January 24 , 2008
Untamed Heart
At least we know the Nets' hearts were in this latest loss (that's seven straight) to the Warriors, in a wild, wacky shootout that saw both teams come back from large deficits, an absence of defense, and another failure in the end game. As the color quickly drains from what could have been a feel-good, comeback win, the Nets now head to Denver for what promises to be another increase in blood pressure for Netsfans.

This was a game of momentum changes, defensive shortcomings, offensive jags, and even the Hack-A-Boone, which came not at the end of the game but before the end of the third quarter, apparently to slow down the Nets' building momentum. The Warriors were in fine health early, with plenty of wide open shots to choose from as they ran the Nets ragged. But, somehow the Nets dug in, took the punch, and starting climbing out of the hole, with Vince Carter's 17 first half points leading the Nets to a 53 - 52 halftime deficit. Netsfans had to be feeling good about this performance, despite the lack of defense.

The third quarter saw the Warriors get the lead back to 7 before the Nets could get the paddles and shock themselves back to life. It was Richard Jefferson and Carter bringing the burst, and after finally tying the game at 73 with less than four minutes to go in the third quarter, NJ then ran up a 17 - 9 quarter-ending heimlich maneuver that including the Hack-A-Boone strategy (he made 6 of 12) to take a 90 - 82 lead into the fourth quarter.

And that lead was quickly erased, as the patient nearly died on the operating room table. A minute into the quarter, all hell broke loose, and it seemd like a quick surrender was coming, thanks to a 22 - 0 Warrior run in which the Nets bench couldn't keep a handle on Al Harrington. When the Nets could have given up yet again after that 22 - 0 Warrior run took a 9 point lead and made it a 13 point deficit with 7 minutes to play in the game, instead the Nets beat back the charge, pumped up the volume, and tied the game with a 12 - 2 run of their own. That in itself was comforting,since the Nets usually wait for the flatline and expire quietly once an out-of-body experience like that happens. But they followed Richard Jefferson and Antoine Wright, of all fellows, and plugged in the heart monitor to tie it up with an RJ dunk with 2:24 to play. And after Josh Boone tipped home a miss, it was a 3 point lead with just over a minute to play, and finally it appeared the Nets would get off the gurney.

But once again, the Nets got the vapors, allowed the Warriors any shot they wanted, and took a bunch of early-in-the-shot-clock threes to waste the chance. Here was the ending sequence: Baron Davis (who triple-doubled) leaked out for an easy layup; Jefferson missed a three (too early); Montae Ellis (the star for the Warriors with 39 points) was fouled and made two free throws; Wright, cocky from hitting two threes moments earlier, misfired on a three, but the rebound came back to Jason Kidd, who also rushed a three and missed; Davis again got an easy layup with 25 seconds to play, and it was a three point game. Vince Carter then (finally) drove and was fouled, making two free throws to cut the lead back to one; Eliis again made two free throws; Carter missed a jumper from two (when he needed three ) with 6 seconds remaining, and that was your ballgame (two more Warrior free throws, and a buzzer beating meaningless three from Boki Nachbar finalized the scoring).

A tough second game of this back-to-back with the Nuggets is next on the operating schedule - the Nets will be lucky to get their wind before it starts.

Surgeon General's Warning
Out Of It - Is it me, or have the Nets opponents gotten probably 100 uncontested shots during this roadtrip? How many times tonight were the Nets beaten down the court for easy layups? How many times was there a wide open attempt from behind the arc? How easy was it to score in the paint? See what I'm saying here? The Nets have no clue right now on how to put forth a solid defensive effort, and face it, that's shocking from a team that used to pride itself on it. The average allowed nightly is up to 100, while the offense still struggles at times just to keep the ball moving. The Warriors, not known for their defense, still forced Net turnovers at will just by hustling and running at the ball. The Nets? Nada, really. The way these Nets are playing, this is not a playoff team.
Smooth Operators - Shame the end-game was so bad, because the Nets had their moments tonight. Despite the ongoingn free throw woes, Josh Boone was a 21 point, 17 rebound (7 offensive) monster. Vince Carter was (finally) aggressive from the start, carrying the Nets for awhile. Though we still wonder what's up with Richard Jefferson, he managed to slice and dice for 34 points, despite really being unable to drive (he still had 12 free throws). Unfortunately, none of the above were solid defensively, with Jefferson especially getting eaten up by Harrington late, Ellis getting all over Carter (and Kidd) and Boone unable to keep the paint attacks down, often getting caught out of position for the easy layins.
Kinder Care - Not a great effort by Jason Kidd tonight. Kidd was torched by Baron Davis, had trouble getting anything to go down (he shot 2 - 10) and he was particularly effective leading the Nets down the stretch. In fact, he might have taken the worst shot of the bunch at the end game, a thrown up three just after the Nets got a big offensive rebound. Is he really looking to go elsewhere? Has he accepted mediocrity with this team? Is he just tired or hurt? I'm sure we'll find out as the season winds its way toward the trading deadline.
Burn Ward - And no, the Nets didn't get much help from their bench, either. Antoine Wright seems to have found the game he lost when he got hurt months ago, with two big threes (but not the biggest), 13 points, 9 rebounds, and about the only Net attempting to play defense. The rest of the bunch, particularly Boki Nachbar, were again a disappointment (Malik Allen was -11 in the 2 plus minutes he played, all during that 22 - 0 run - ew).
Band-Aids And Medical Tape - The Nets did manage to stick it to the Warriors on the boards, 60 - 40, including 20 offensive boards. But a lot of good it did them...

Critical Care
More energy and effort, same result. No, despite the fact that the Nets still aren't playing a lick of defense, they were in this one to the end, something that hasn't happened much lately. It was Montae Ellis, Baron Davis, All Harrington and the rest of the Warriors that were able to outlast the Nets tonight, but if they'd been able to slow this Golden team down even a lick, especially after taking the lead late in the third, the Nets might be looking at a win. It's probably too much to hope the Nets will end the skid in Denver, so unless they can regroup and get a win in Minnesota to end the trip, the best the Nets can hope for is 19 - 25 as they come back to New Jersey. Somehow, we thought this year would be different...but once again, the Nets will have to scramble just to get into the playoffs.
- Joe