Joe Netsfan Game x Game 44 - T-Wolves 98, Nets 95

This is unwatchable at this point

T-Wolves 98, Nets 95
Game 44 File
Leading just about wire to wire despite a huge game from Al Jefferson, the Nets inexplicably stop doing just about everything they were doing, allowing the Wolves to score the last 10 points of the game (in less than two minutes) to make it nine straight defeats. This one might be the worst of the bunch, as the Nets seems to think they had the game won, and couldn't get one stop or one basket that likely would have won the game. Pathetic.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 18 - 26
Home Record: 9 - 14
Away Record: 9 - 12
Division Record: 2 - 7
Conf. Record: 13 - 13
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard Jefferson, 35.
• Assists: Vince Carter, 5.
• Rebounds: Sean Williams, 12.
• Steals: Kidd, Carter and Collins each had 1.
• Turnovers: Vince Carter, 4.
• Blocks: Sean Williams, 3.
• FG Percentage: Richard Jefferson, 50.0% (11 - 22). Vince Carter was also 9 - 18.

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 43.2%
• FT Percentage: 66.7%
• Rebounds: 48
• Rebound Differential: +8
• Turnovers: 11
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 10
• Bench points: 12
• Bench points Differential:-9
• Steals: 3
• Blocks: 3
• Points in the Paint: 22
• Double-Doubles: 0
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 3
• Nets Fast Break Points: 9
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 44.4% (4 - 9)
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: -4
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: +1 (M. Williams)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 24
• Triple Doubles this Season: 11
• Career Triple Doubles:98

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

T-Wolves Media:
Minneapolis Star Tribune | Timberwolves

Game 44: T-Wolves 98, Nets 95 – January 27 , 2008
Abandon Hope
And in the last game of the Nets' six game road trip, all hope has been lost. Oh, they'll probably win another game at some point this season, but the way they lost tonight's matchup against the NBA's worst Timberwolves, well, they'll not recover from that any time soon. The losing streak hits nine, as the Nets lead nearly wire to wire, building a 15 point lead, before inexplicably moving away from what worked, locking up offensively and allowing the open shooter defensively, and a seven point lead with less than two minutes to go disappears into the cold, Minnesota night. It doesn't get much worse, especially since we've all though we've seen it all this year.

The Nets, though, just keep on surprising, and usually not in a good way.

Struggling to contain burly Al Jefferson, who undressed the Nets inside to the tune of 40 points, but getting a handle on the rest of the young Wolves, the Nets made numerous runs, saw the Wolves creep back, then opened up the lead once again. They did this in every quarter, with Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter taking apart the Wolves zone defense with patient reads, attacks on the paint, and the occasional jumper. It was enough to give Netsfans hope, that the Nets had a 10 point lead at the break, the defense was at least getting enough stops to matter, and turnovers and free throws weren't a problem.

So what happened, exactly? The Nets took a 10 point lead into the final quarter, the Wolves got to within 4 points twice, behind Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, and Corey Brewer, but the Nets beat back the challenge, the second time with Jefferson and Carter. In fact, after Carter's jumper gave the Nets a seven point lead with 1:19 to play, it looked all but finished. But the Nets, pansies that they are, lost their mental edge. First, doubling Al Jefferson, they left Rashard McCants open, and he hit a three to make it a four point game. Next possession, against the zone, the Nets got the rock to Jason Collins, who was fouled and promptly missed both his free throws, giving the ball back to the Wolves with 56 seconds to play. Right down the court, the Nets left Gomes open, and he drilled another 3 with 40 ticks remaining, and just like that this was a 1 point game.

So, the Nets would simply take it to the rack, since the Wolves were in the penalty, right? No, again with the zone, the Nets tried to shoot over it, and Carter missed a long jumper with 24 seconds remaining, giving the Wolves a chance to win the game and run out the clock. McCants missed a jumper, but Al Jefferson got the rebound and was fouled, and he calmly made two free throws to give Minny a one point lead with 11 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Richard Jefferson drove to the hoop, got the space he needed, and missed an open eight footer, and that was your ballgame right there. Incredibly, after Al Jefferson made two more free throws, the Nets still had a chance with 5 seconds, but Carter's launch from three bounced harmlessly off the rim.

Another game blown, another late lead handed away, another loss to a bad team the Nets should have beaten. Time to crawl home, with controversy and a long, long losing streak trailing behind these Nets. Just don't hold out any hope for a turnaround, even with Nenad Krstic's return at some point soon...

Stunned And Amazed
No Heart Wussies - How can you not finish off the worst team in the NBA? How do you lose a seven point lead with less than two minutes to play? Only these Nets could do such a thing, falling yet again into the trap of winning the game before it's won, and finding themselves surprised to be losers. You mean to tell me the Nets couldn't make one bucket late? They couldn't get one stop? This one falls as much on Lawrence Frank as on anyone, because he had Jason Collins in the game (and he missed two critical pressure free throws, after making two earlier without pressure), he couldn't seem to draw up anything imaginative, and his team couldn't execute, allowing the Wolves to steal the win. The sub patterns (the subs are killing the Nets as well, leaving everything up to the Big Three), the missed free throws, the blown defensive assignments, it's all the mark of a team that isn't coached very well...And it all means that this isn't something the Nets will snap out of any time soon...everyone is a potential out-of-towner, including Frank.
Fully Formed - Maybe trading Kevin Garnett wasn't the worst thing the Wolves could have done, since they now have Al Jefferson to build around. Jefferson pushed around the Nets inside men (mainly Sean Williams and Josh Boone) without mercy, rining up a bunch of hoop-and-harms with his inside moves. The Nets couldn't figure out how to stop him until they started doubling him, and that left the shooters open to wreck the Nets' plans for a win. Jefferson was monster, with 40 points, 19 rebounds (8 offensive) and 2 blocks while seriously outplaying anyone the Nets could send at him.
Too Much But Too Late - The other Jefferson, Richard, meanwhile looked much better and looser driving to the hoop, and had a big game with 35 points. But again, he missed a huge short jumper with time running out that would have given the Nets the lead, and again he missed 5 free throws in the game that could have made the difference. Vince Carter also had his moments, scoring 25 points, but it wasn't nearly enough as he was doubled for much of the game, and the Nets had to rely on others to no one's satisfaction.
Looking Empty - The Nets are getting next to nothing from their bench, and every time the starters leave the floor, trouble ensues for NJ. Boki Nachbar didn't play (though he did dress), Marcus Williams had exactly one good game (the road trip opener in LA), Malik Allen has become a serious defensive liability, and Jason Collins is Jason Collins. Darrell Armstrong and Jamaal Magloire didn't play (Magloire never does, except during blowouts) and Antoine Wright has provided the only pick me up of late (though tonight, not so much). What appeared to be a strength has turned out to be anything but...
Big Empty - Sean Williams and Josh Boone got schooled tonight, plain and simple. Part of the growing pains of young bigs, but my goodness, it wasn't pretty down low tonight. Al Jefferson is a load, but these boys should have been able to take away some part of his game - they failed miserably. Jason Collins actually had some effect, that is, until the Wolves started moving the ball around.
No Defending This Steak - More on defense - the Nets simply aren't causing turnovers, getting only 3 steals tonight (the Wolves turned the ball over 10 times, mostly because of themselves) and putting very little pressure on the ball. They also don't get tipped balls, balls on the floor, or really any other type of loose ball since they don't hustle much and prefer to watch others pick them up.
You Can Quote Me - It will be interesting to read the post-game quotes from the Nets, Lawrence Frank and Rod Thorn after this one. If there was ever a game in which to step on the neck of an opponent and take out your anger, it was this one. And they couldn't do it...pathetic. This could be the final straw toward cleaning house, even if they have mostly untradeable contracts.

Empty, And Out
Zero for six on the road trip, with a host of bad wins, is certainly no picnic. That the losing streak is now at 9, thanks to a whole lot of Al Jefferson and the Timberwolves, is much more difficult to take, considering the Nets had clawed their way to .500 just before the losing started. This might be the worst loss of all, with a blown 7 point lead with less than 2 to play, to the NBA's worst team, and that's perhaps the reason why all hope is lost in Netsfanland. The defense is amateurish at best, the stagnant offense just offensive, and the Big Three should consider changing their moniker to the Wee Three. Where it all heads from here, with Kidd rumored to be wanting out and the rest of the Nets basically untradeable, is beyond me to figure out. You can start the letter writing campaign to Rod Thorn, because this time you have a legitimate case that it's on the coach as well as the players. Blow it up, start all over again, do what you must, but this team has had it's run, and it's time for something new...
- Joe