Joe Netsfan Game x Game 57 - Magic 102, Nets 92

Cut time

Magic 102, Nets 92
Game 57 File
Playing with continued fervor, the Nets hang in with the Magic for three plus quarters, getting scoring and leadership from VC and RJ, but it unravels midway through the fourth, as the Nets go cold, forget to stop the Magic, and lose the game thanks mostly to the efforts of Hedo Turkoglu.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 25 - 32
Home Record: 14 - 16
Away Record: 11 - 16
Division Record: 2 - 8
Conf. Record: 18 - 18
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Vince Carter, 26.
• Assists: Marcus Williams, 8.
• Rebounds: Josh Boone, 11.
• Steals: Vince Carter, 2.
• Turnovers: Marcus Williams and Jefferson each had 3.
• Blocks: Vince Carter, 2.
• FG Percentage: Josh Boone, 100.0% (6 - 6).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 42.7%
• FT Percentage: 62.5%
• Rebounds: 40
• Rebound Differential: +3
• Turnovers: 13
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 12
• Bench points: 19
• Bench points Differential:+2
• Steals: 5
• Blocks: 5
• Points in the Paint: 22
• Double-Doubles: 1 (Josh Boone: 12 points, 11 rebounds)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The (No) Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 5
• Nets Fast Break Points: 7
•Marcus Williams' FG Percentage: 30.8% (4 - 13)
• Scoring Differential M. Williams in the game: Even
• Scoring Differential M. Williams out: -10 (Armstrong)

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

Magic Media:
Orlando Sentinel | Magic

Game 57: Magic 102, Nets 92 – February 26 , 2008
The Turk
Just like in training camp, it's a constant struggle to survive and advance each and every day, each and every game. For the new-look, Kidd-less Nets (we promise we'll only keep using this for another month or so), tonight was an exercise in that very refrain - pull ahead, fall behind, stay even with the Orlando Magic for well more than three quarters, before The Turk finally catches up to you, and you're just another roadside casualty. Unfortunately, it was Hedo Turkoglu, who, with some help from his friends Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard, put the Nets out to pasture with some brilliant fourth quarter play, dropping the Nets at home.

The shame of it is, the Nets had great intensity and effort for this one, a lively if not always successful defense, and enough threes on drive and kicks from Marcus Williams and Vince Carter to win this damned game. But they were torn apart in the end game, as Turkoglu had 17 fourth quarter points from just about every conceivable angle, and after putting up a defensive stand for most of the game, The Turk was able to wreck it with abandon. Starting the quarter tied at 70, the Nets ran off five quick points, and it appeared they might get over the hump. But Turkoglo helped run them back into it, and after scoring 9 points in a 15 - 8 Magic run that put Orlando up by two, The Turk broke the Nets' backs with his first three of the night, and the Nets would not recover. The Nets tried and failed to dig out, with missed shots and a critical Richard Jefferson turnover sealing the deal.

The Nets actually had an early 7 point lead, and despite 19 lead changes and 11 ties, it really appeared that Carter and Jefferson, with help from all, could get this one done. The threes turned out to be fool's gold, as the shots stopped falling, and the imbalance at the free throw line started to catch up to the Nets. They even kept Dwight "Superman" Howard to a reasonable game, but in the end, none of it mattered, thanks to the Turk.

And the hard part is just beginning, Netsfans, because after a respite against the Bucks at home, two straight games against the San Antonio Spurs usher in hell week for NJ. Try not to get emotional yet.

Camp Izod
Training Camp Diary - Honestly, if the Nets had given this kind of effort consistently all season long, they would have anywhere from 4 - 6 more wins under their belts. They may not have won tonight, but it was never a question of effort, and with Kidd out of the picture, it appears the Nets understand they NEED to work harder (hell, even Vince Carter dove on the floor for a loose ball). But, in what has been the overall theme for the Nets this year, they couldn't finish what they started, as too many sins started piling up. Among them - they got killed in the paint (48 points against), they were on the wrong end of a 43 to 16 imbalance in free throw attempts, and they couldn't get stops when needed (the Magic shot 52% for the night).
Make Or Break - So far, these Nets seem to understand they need to follow Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson to be successful, but also understand that they need to contribute. Carter has been much, much better of late as the focal point of the offense, and tonight he was 26 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, plus 2 steals and 2 blocks, in 43 minutes. Jefferson was good as well, lining up 20/4/6, but both struggled at times with Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, getting burned in the end (the two Magic men combined for 50 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists). They got help, though, from Josh Boone, who did ok with Dwight Howard (Superman had 17 points and 10 boards, but he had to work for it and he wasn't allowed to dominate),
Roster Noodling - Lawrence Frank got caught with a bunch of bad matchups tonight, having to pull Nenad Krstic when the Magic went small, and struggling with Gana Diop and Sean Williams up front. How the Nets managed to keep the Magic close for so long is amazing, since none of the three were able to do much of anything against the Magic forwards.
Tres Amigos - Live by the three...the Nets were actually highly accurate from behind the line, going 12 - 26 (Carter and Nachbar had 3 each). But the Nets aren't built to sustain that pace, and if you don't get stops, it doesn't matter how many threes you make...

Cut Day
So Hedo Turkoglu, with help from Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis, helped to mangle the Nets plans of rising up to the elite in the East. Don't expect an easy ride from here - the Southern swing begins next week, and it starts with two straight against the world champs. This Net team needs to continue to bring the energy and intensity to every second of every game to give themselves a chance, and while their recent history is highly spotty, perhaps they've learned they won't be entitled to anything without Jason Kidd there to guide them. Hell, they need a lot of Devin Harris as well, so come back quickly, Devin.
- Joe