Joe Netsfan Game x Game 72 - Nets 125, Pacers 117

Passing the test: when you play defense, even just a bit more than the other team, you win

Nets 125, Pacers 117
Game 72 File
In a game without much defense, the Nets tear it up in the first quarter, build a lead as high as 16, before it all comes crashing back to earth. Fortunately for the Nets, though, they played just enough defense to take control, and never let the Pacers get the lead as they close this one out for a much-needed win.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 31 - 41
Home Record: 19 - 18
Away Record: 12 - 23
Division Record: 3 - 9
Conf. Record: 23 - 20
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Josh Boone, 26.
• Assists: Devin Harris, 15.
• Rebounds: Vince Carter, 14.
• Steals: Devin Harris, 2.
• Turnovers: Harris and Carter each had 3.
• Blocks: Boone and Diop each had 2.
• FG Percentage: Josh Boone, 75.0% (9 - 12).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 54.4%
• FT Percentage: 67.6%
• Rebounds: 43
• Rebound Differential: +2
• Turnovers: 10
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 7
• Bench points: 30
• Bench points Differential:-12
• Steals: 3
• Blocks: 5
• Points in the Paint: 46
• Double-Doubles: 2 (Devin Harris: 22 points, 15 assists; Vince Carter: 22 points, 14 rebounds)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The (No) Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 5
• Nets Fast Break Points: 13
•Devin Harris' FG Percentage: 69.2% (9 - 13)
• Scoring Differential Harris in the game: +10
• Scoring Differential Harris out: -2 (M. Williams)

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

Pacers Media:
Indianapolis Star | Pacers

Game 72: Nets 125, Pacers 117 – March 26 , 2008
Moral Of The Story
Nothing difficult about what was learned tonight by the Nets in their matchup with the Pacers - if they hope to outscore the universe, well, they'd better start thinking about some defense. And by playing just a tiny bit more than the less-than-none defense that Indiana sent to New Jersey, the Nets were able to lead wire-to-wire and get a win, despite nearly blowing the game when they forgot about any defense for a stretch. The win proves that the Nets can get one at home, sure, but now, with the remaining schedule tipped toward the road, where the Nets have been dismal for the past two months, can they get some wins on the road?

The moral of the story for the night, though, was that this Nets team can score, and when it decides to defend, it can win games. Things got rocketed out of the gate with the speed of Devin Harris, who played pick and roll with Josh Boone to devistating effect in the first quarter, helping the Nets ring up a season-high-for-a-quarter 42 points. The Pacers were playing no defense, the Nets very little, and it showed in a wild first quarter in which the Nets could not be stopped (13 assists on 15 baskets and far too many easy shots for any team to have) and the Pacers were right behind them.

But then the Nets inevitably slowed down, allowing the Pacers to start working their way back into this one in the second quarter. Defense started to elude the Nets, while empty trips on offense reappeared and the longball started twinking twine for Indiana. Behind Mike Dunleavy and Ike Diagou (sort of an outside-inside combo), the Pacers came back from 16 down to make it an eight point game at the half, and Netsfans had to be worried that this morality play wouldn't turn out right.

The third quarter, then, was a lesson for all involved. Going on a 14 -0 run spanning the second and third quarters brought the Pacers to within two points, and with Danny Granger now suddenly having woken up, the Pacers would tie the game at 77. The Nets, with bad possession after bad possession and lacking the movement that brought them a ton of easy points, were staggering and looking for someone to pull them out of the morass. It would happen, the Nets would not lock up and wither away, and it came from Boki Nachbar, fo all people.

Nachbar went on a shooting spree, getting 15 points in the third to help left the Nets back out of the peril they had put themselves in. Reopening their lead up to 10 after a Vince Carter three, the Nets now found their rhythm and took that tenspot into the fourth quarter (having scored a whopping 98 points through three quarters).

Damned if those Pacers didn't cut the lead one more time to get to within four, but again the Nets had the answer, this time in the form of Carter. After Granger hit a free throw to bring it to four with under six minutes to play, Carter rattled home a three to give some separation, and then combined with Harris, Nachbar, Richard Jefferson, and Josh "Hack-a" Boone to close this one out. The best part - the Nets went into defensive mode (finally!) after Granger hit the free throw, holding Indiana to 3 of 10 shooting (plus 2 free throws) the rest of the way, nailing down the win.

So the Nets are still in the playoff hunt, having vanquished the Pacers to 2 1/2 games behind in the chase for the final EC playoff spot. The Nets, holding steady a half-game behind the Hawks with 10 to play, need to pick it up as they head on the road for the rematch in Indy on Friday night.

Teach Your Children Well
Home Schooling - The Nets have been ridiculous offensively at home in the last month, haven't they? They seem to be able to score at will when they're at the Izod, and with the energy and speed that Devin Harris brings, it looks like a mismatch from the opening tip (of course, the Nets have played a bunch of defensive pansies of late, so that helps too). Harris was brilliant tonight, running the offense, picking up 15 assists and scoring 22 points, and turning Josh Boone into a scoring machine (shame on you Pacers for not covering him closer). And the Nets seem to play much looser with him at the controls than with Kidd (and you know where I'm going with that, so I'll leave it alone). The Nets had 29 assists on 43 buckets, shot greater than 50% again, 13 threes, plenty of easy baskets, and lots of running. Nicely done.
No Defense - Have you ever seen more easy baskets, and-ones, and wide open shooters in a game in your life? It was bizarre how easy it was to shred to the Pacer defense in the first quarter, almost like they hadn't gotten off the bus yet. Too much time in the clubs in NYC? Neither team played much defense, and perhaps that's why they both find themselves on the outside looking in at the playoffs. The Nets only played a minimal amout of D, and that came in handy at the end when the Pacers were making one last rush. Of course, we can conclude that this Net bunch won't be going anywhere if they play all O, no D on the road, where the pickings have been meager...
Leadership Excellence - Once again, the Nets stars picked it up and got it done as they drive to the end of the season. Vince Carter was again strong, doing most of his scoring at the end when the Nets needed a lift (he had struggled early) and he was a beast on the boards, doing the dirty work while Josh Boone was scoring out of his mind. Boone had 26 points, 21 in a first half that was all Boone, all the time thanks to Harris' point play. Richard Jefferson was consistent throughout, taking the ball to the hoop and ringing up the and-ones and free throws with reckless abandon. And Boki Nachbar was huge after a nothing first half, ratcheting up the heaves to the tune of 15 third quarter points that beat back the Pacer attack. And all were tight defensively at the end, when it came time to stop screwing around and get the win.
Breaking The Backs - Of course, we still wonder if this Nets team can put anyone away early, after being up 16 points in the second quarter and allowing the Pacers to come all the way back (but not take the lead). It's got to be a lack of focus, because lord knows they have the talent and (allegedly) they're prepared. Of course, all NBA teams are capable of making terrific runs, but the good teams can put a team into a headlock and keep them there. The Nets are clearly not that team.
Storytelling - Interesting rotations tonight - clearly the Pacers like to get up and down and just chuck, but no Sean Williams, no Stromile Swift, and no Darrell Armstrong in the rotation. Strange that Mr Energy himself wouldn't at least make a cameo (especially since the offense continues to struggle when Marcus Williams is running the team as the backup point -he's good for one or two boneheaded turnovers per game), and the old man backup PG wouldn't either. Ah, matchups...
Home Rule - Home is where the Nets heart is lately, having gone 5 - 1 there while scoring 104, 117, 125, 114, and now 125 points. Remember it wasn't that long ago the Nets struggled to score 90 points and were the bottom feeders of the NBA scoring elite? Well, they are now 27th in the league, averaging over 95 PPG. I'm not arguing that it's great, but this was a team when Kidd was around this year that couldn't average 90.

Lessons Learned
Run, Nets, run, right into the playoffs? Well, if scoring and offense were the only criteria, the Nets would probably get in right now, since they're getting it done on a major offensive level these days. Vince Carter, Devin Harris, Richard Jefferson, Josh Boone and Boki Nachbar were en fuego tonight, but they learned their lesson to play some defense tonight, even if just at the end. We still have to worry about the lack of defense we're seeing lately. The Nets cannot hope to outscore the likes of Phoenix and Boston, so it's not a great long-term strategy without more changeover on the roster. Of course, this group is still trying to get into the playoffs, where defense is valued highly and championships are won based on it. Well, these Nets aren't winning any titles this year, but it sure has been a lot more fun watching 125 - 114 losses than it ws 79 - 70, right? I give up handicapping this team's chances, since they have more remaining road games than home games, but who knows in this wacky NBA?
- Joe