Joe Netsfan Game x Game 52 - Nets 92, T-Wolves 88

Still there, for now

Nets 92, T-Wolves 88
Game 52 File
A late third quarter run was about all that separated two mediocre teams from boring themselves to death. Luckily for Netsfans, it was New Jersey that found enough separation to get a win behind Kidd, Carter, Jefferson and Sean Williams.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 23 - 29
Home Record: 12 - 15
Away Record: 11 - 14
Division Record: 2 - 7
Conf. Record: 16 - 15
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Vince Carter, 17.
• Assists: Vince Carter, 10.
• Rebounds: Richard Jefferson, 12.
• Steals: Vince Carter, 3.
• Turnovers: Jason Kidd, 4.
• Blocks: Josh Boone, 4.
• FG Percentage: Sean Williams, 100.0% (4 - 4).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 42.2%
• FT Percentage: 86.4%
• Rebounds: 54
• Rebound Differential: +8
• Turnovers: 14
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 11
• Bench points: 35
• Bench points Differential:+9
• Steals: 6
• Blocks: 8
• Points in the Paint: 40
• Double-Doubles: 2 (Vince Carter: 17 points, 10 assists; Richard Jefferson: 13 points, 12 rebounds)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 4
• Nets Fast Break Points: 12
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 33.3% (4 - 12)
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: +7
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: -3 (Armstrong)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 28
• Triple Doubles this Season: 12
• Career Triple Doubles:99

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 52: Nets 92, Timberwolves 88 – February 12 , 2008
Faces In The Crowd
Through the blur of a February snowstorm, the swirling winds of trade, and the heavy air of two woebegotten franchises trying and failing to make this a basketball game, one thing stood out - the 3000 or so people in attendance tonight, probably getting to know one another while watching this mess of a scrimmage. Even as the Kidd trade winds continued, the Nets managed to follow his lead and pull away from a pitiful excuse of three quarters of basketball to come up with the win. And this one, the Nets third straight, wasn't by any stretch pretty, but at least it was a win against a team they have to beat in order to maintain some semblanec of playoff decorum.

As the fans were called down to the lower level center court to fill in all the embarassing empties caught on camera, one would wonder why on earth they would have wanted a closer view of what was unfolding. With poor shooting, turnovers aplenty and a stubborn refusal to go to the hoop, the Nets were making an exercise in tedium out of what should have been an easy path to victory. Far be it for the Nets to make it easy, though - with 11 first half turnovers, a horrific shooting percentage, and flat performances from the entire team, this looked nothing like the squad that soundly defeated the Mavs on Sunday night. Somehow, the Nets managed to eke out a three point lead at the break, as Vince Carter seemed to be the only one to be able to score (and he scored the last 6 Nets points of the half to put up a 10 point first half, missing 7 of his 9 first half shots but ringing up 4 assists).

This grunge ball continued for more than half of the third quarter before a few familiar faces finally provided some spark for the Nets. It started (like it usually does) with Jason Kidd, who provided 4 straight smart, precise assists on buckets from Josh Boone, Sean Williams and two consecutive Boki Nachbar hoop and harms. That mini 10 - 5 NJ run broke open a tie game, and with Nachbar's 10 points in the final four minutes of the third providing a double-digit lead, that appeared to be the end of things.

Of course, the Nets hate success more than anything, so the lead, which stretched as high as 12, was knocked back to five, and then later to four, thanks to the play of local legend but NBA disappointment Sebastian Telfair, who wouldn't quit even though the rest of his mates seemed to. At 82 - 78 and under three minutes remaining, the Nets could fight or flight. Luckily, Kidd took a Carter pass and banged home a three, restoring some sense of order, and when Boone was fed for an easy dunk thanks to Kidd, it was again a 9 point game with less than :40 to play. The margin was sucked up by two Minny threes, including one from Telfair when he stole the ball from RJ while he was dribbling out the clock, but it was over nonetheless.

And those 3000 or so people (it was put at 7000 in the box score, but don't believe it) could go home happy, secure in the knowledge that if this was Kidd's last game as a Net, it was at least an ugly win.

Face The Face
Facing Reality - Could there have been some hangover knowing that their captain might be on the way out? Looked like it to us. The Nets were borderline inept in the first half, turning the ball over, refusing to go inside, and generally lackadaisical from the start. Richard Jefferson apparently was suffering from the stomach flu, so there went one weapon. Carter, content to bomb away from outside, was missing everything. And Kidd didn't seem to engage at all, until later in the third quarter, when it appeared that Kidd switched into gear, got a bunch of easy baskets for the Nets, and they were on their way (what were there, about a half dozen 'oops on the night?).
Faces New And Old - The Nets appeared content to let Wolves other than Al Jefferson beat them, and they succeeded for the most part. By attempting (and mostly succeeding) in locking up the paint, Jefferson was forced to do some seriously heavy lifting, and couldn't. His mates (with the exception of Telfair, who looked anything like the dud he's been) couldn't get it done, and the Nets defense gets good grades tonight for covering the shooters as well as sealing the paint (with the exception of Telfair's wide open three late, which could have been damaging if the Nets lead wasn't bigger), holding the Wolves to
Newest Face - There was Stromile Swift checking in the second quarter (and not garbage time) and generally making use of himself on the second unit, scoring 4 points. Combining with Sean Williams to give the Nets energy off the bench, this just might work out yet, if Stro can play any kind of defense whatsoever.
Foreign Faces - Best game yet for Nenad Krstic, who shot 5 - 9 and scored 10 points, with 8 boards in only 15 minutes. Impressive as he works his way back. And Boki Nachbar, who got no PT love in the first half, was one of the big energy changers in the third quarter, with his 10 point run building the Nets a lead they wouldn't let go of. Boki had 14 on the night, even though his three point shot wasn't falling, and made himself into a hero for the night. Well done.
Face The Nation - OK, now, what about Kidd? If he stays, does he continue to play well, or does he tank? If he goes, what happens to this Net squad? Guess we'll find out in the next week or so, but until then, let's hope the wins continue.

Face Dances
Without a full house to guide them (since when does that matter?), th Nets finally found the energy in the faces that remained to put off the pesky T-Wolves. Without contributions from all, namely Jason Kidd, VInce Carter, Richard Jefferson, Nenad Krstic, Boki Nachbar and Sean Williams, this might have been yet another ugly loss in a season full of them. But, thankfully, the Captain was able to find the right notes for his teammates, and they responded by holding off the Minny charge in the fourth quarter. The defense was good but the turnovers bad, the intensity suspect even as the energy increased late, and the shooting was again a nightmare (someone please take it to the hoop now and then), but it is the Nets third straight win, and with one more tough game tomorrow night in Toronto before heading off the for All Star break, maybe it's the start of something. Perhaps nothing more than change, but until then, time to see what develops.
- Joe