Joe Netsfan Game x Game 70 - Sixers 91, Nets 87

Blowing a late lead, and several opportunities

Sixers 91, Nets 87
Game 70 File
Time is growing short for these Nets to make the playoffs, as a sluggish start was corrected with a 13 -0 run in the third quarter, but closing out the game proves troublesome, and the Sixers get the win. The Nets slip 1 1/2 games out of the last playoff spot in the East with 12 games to play.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 29 - 41
Home Record: 18 - 18
Away Record: 11 - 23
Division Record: 2 - 9
Conf. Record: 21 - 20
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Vince Carter, 27.
• Assists: Harris and Carter each had 5.
• Rebounds: Josh Boone, 11.
• Steals: Vince Carter, 3.
• Turnovers: Nenad Krstic, 3.
• Blocks: Krstic and Boone each had 2.
• FG Percentage: Nenad Krstic, 66.7% (6 - 9).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 37.8%
• FT Percentage: 84.0%
• Rebounds: 45
• Rebound Differential: -5
• Turnovers: 15
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 15
• Bench points: 12
• Bench points Differential:-9
• Steals: 7
• Blocks: 4
• Points in the Paint: 38
• Double-Doubles: 0
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The (No) Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 4
• Nets Fast Break Points: 15
•Devin Harris' FG Percentage: 38.5% (5 - 13)
• Scoring Differential Harris in the game: -2
• Scoring Differential Harris out: -2 (M. Williams)

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Sixers Media:
Philadelphia Inquirer

Game 70: Sixers 91, Nets 87 – March 22 , 2008
Getting Late
Time keeps on ticking into the future, and for the Nets, it's starting to get short, both for the end of this latest road loss to the Sixers as well as for their playoff hopes. After starting off shakily, the Nets were able to get it going after halftime, but then couldn't seal the deal in the fourth quarter. And now, they find themselves a game-and-a-half out of the last playoff spot with only 12 to play. Tick, tick, tick...

Struggling out of the gate, both the Nets and the Sixers seemed to be doing a lot of work for not much reward, but things started to turn Philly's way very late in the first quarter. With Sam Dalembert all over the boards, and the second teamers running the floor, the Nets hung tough until the Sixers started running and gunning, while taking the defense up a notch. The Nets offense got stagnant, the Sixers opened up a seven point lead at the half, and things looked, well, like they've looked of late - like it was getting late early.

But as is their habit lately, the Nets made the third quarter their own, behind the grit and determination of Vince Carter. Up to that point Carter had struggled, but with the Nets going zone on defense, more opportunities to move the ball presented themselves. Carter, though not shooting well, got 10 points in the quarter and the Nets went on a 13 - 0 run to take an eight point lead. Things were heading in the right direction once again, even as it was getting late.

But the Nets couldn't sustain it, as the Sixers mixed up their defense, pressed the ball, and threw up some zone, and the result were more bad Net possessions. With the Nets still only down 86 - 85 with less than two minutes to play after a Carter slam, the Nets then reverted to form as they have so many times this season. After playing some great defense against the Sixers but coming up empty offensively, the Nets let Andre Iguodala find his way to the cup, where he was fouled and converted two free throws with 22 seconds remaining. Now down 3, the Nets got Carter open for a three, but he missed, with Iguodala grabbing the rebound and again being fouled, converting two more free throws for a 5 point lead. Carter would get a gimmee slam, and Andre Miller would convert a free throw, but the Nets couldn't get the stop they needed, and this one was again a late loss.

For shame, really, because they played well enough to win. They again turned the ball over too often, leading to easy Sixer scores, but they had them where they wanted them late, and they couldn't get it done. Doesn't bode well now as the Nets find themselves falling further out of the playoff picture, and time growing short. The Knicks are next, and with an 0 - 3 record against them despite their overall 19 - 50 record, you can't even count on that game.

No Time For Heroes
Clock Watchers - The big story in this one was the failure of end game execution, on both ends of the floor. After ripping into the lead by running and gunning in the third quarter, the Sixers press and zone defenses totally took the Nets out of any sort of rhythm, leading to a lost lead. The Nets simply couldn't adjust, and give the Sixers credit for playing some great end-game defense (the Nets, to their credit, played well defensively too). But how can the Nets make the playoffs when they can't hold leads, especially in the fourth quarter? These are some tough times for the Nets, and frankly they're not faring well as of yet.
Road Closed - So that's 9 straight road losses and 17 of 19, if I'm not mistaken, for these Nets. It goes to all the little things that the Nets don't always do, like tonight it was rebounding the basketball, shooting well, or defending the penetration drive. Despite all the good we've seen in the Devin Harris era, he's still o-fer on the road, which again points to a team not heading to the playoffs (and do you think the Nets could slow, let alone beat, the Celtics? C'mon).
Star Of Late Night TV - Let's continue to beat the drum on the change in Vince Carter, who's been a team leader, especially on the court. Again, Vince tried to carry the Nets, but in that fourth quarter he was meeting double teams as the Sixers dared anyone else to beat them. But anyone else, especially Richard Jefferson, who suffered through a horrible game, couldn't get the ball into the hole, making it that much tougher on Carter. With not much again from the bench (Lou Williams of the Sixers outscored the Nets bench by himself 15 - 12), and only Nenad Krstic (who played much better game tonight than he did last night) really helping out, the Nets wind up trying to force the ball or force up shots instead of working to get good looks. It's another pattern that we've seen all season long - don't you think some of that goes to the coaching?
Benching - Trenton Hassell has pretty much become persona non grata, which is a bit puzzling since the Nets often struggle when the subs are in the game (you would surmise that his lack of offensive skills and not his defense are why he's sitting).
Tall Orders - Think Sam Dalembert had an effect on this game? He was all over the boards - he had 18, with 9 offensive boards - he scored 11 points, and had 5 blocked shots, often altering the Nets approach if not their shots. Give credit to Josh Boone for hanging in there - he had 11 boards and 9 points, but Sam's length bothered even him. He's a big difference maker for this Sixer team, which has no big stars, lots of rookies, but a great PG in Andre Miller (who also happened to have 21 points and 5 assists) and a budding star in Andre Iguodala (who picked it up in the second half on both ends of the floor, getting 28 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals while also bothering the hell out of Richard Jefferson). This is a role model for the Nets, who have bigger stars but need more role players to do more.
Dated Calendar - With the loss, the Nets drop to 3 - 9 in March. Great stretch run, huh?

Time For Something Completely Different
Do we think the Nets really have a shot at the playoffs? After tonight's performance, against a better but not much better Sixer squad featuring Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Sam Dalembert, and a lot of kids, you would have to think not. Only 12 games left for the Nets to pick up one and a half games on the Hawks, while also battling the Pacers and the Bulls, and not one shred of a sign that the Nets are going on any sort of season-ending run like they have the past few years. Plus, their atrocious record on the road isn't helping things either, so I would suspect that we'll soon be watching the playoffs while talking about who the Nets will be drafting with that lottery pick.
- Joe