Joe Netsfan Game x Game 81 - Nets 112, Bobcats 108 OT

Is this the end?

Nets 112, Bobcats 108 OT
Game 81 File
Falling behind by 20 and showing little effort against the Bobcats, the Nets reverse course in the second half and ride Carter, Jefferson and Harris to an impressive OT win in the last home game of the season.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 34 - 47
Home Record: 21 - 20
Away Record: 13 - 27
Division Record: 4 - 11
Conf. Record: 26 - 25
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard Jefferson, 28.
• Assists: Carter and Harris each had 8.
• Rebounds: Gana Diop, 7.
• Steals: Vince Carter, 3.
• Turnovers: Devin Harris, 5.
• Blocks: Stromile Swift, 3.
• FG Percentage: Diop and Armstrong, 75.0% (each shot 3 - 4).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 45.1%
• FT Percentage: 78.4%
• Rebounds: 40
• Rebound Differential: -12
• Turnovers: 16
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 18
• Bench points: 43
• Bench points Differential:+22
• Steals: 9
• Blocks: 6
• Points in the Paint: 50
• Double-Doubles: 0
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The (No) Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 6
• Nets Fast Break Points: 22
•Devin Harris' FG Percentage: 40.0% (4 - 10)
• Scoring Differential Harris in the game: +8
• Scoring Differential Harris out: -4 (Armstrong, 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

Bobcats Media:
Charlotte Observer | Bobcats

Game 81: Nets 112, Bobcats 108 OT – April 15 , 2008
Late Pride, Last Exit?
Sweet relief - it's almost over. The Nets showed some pride tonight after falling behind by 20 to a Charlotte team that is in worse shape than they are, digging themselves out of the hole they put themselves in with a fine second half effort that led to an overtime win. With the victory at home, the Nets assure themselves a winning home record and little else, except that there is likely to be a significant roster overhaul in the off-season, which may well include Richard Jefferson.

RJ was strong in the second half of this one, leading a comeback from 20 down and reversing the first half story of Jason Richardson outplaying him by popping in 24 after the break. Starting the game lethargic to a team much hungrier then the Nets were showing, it was an absolute debacle after NJ got off to an 11 - 4 start, with the Bobcats 29 - 7 the balance of the first quarter to take a 15 point lead. It would get much worse before it got better, but if you watched this one to the half you would have sworn this game would turn out to be a 30 point pounding.

But the Nets showed enough character not to take this one lying down, and they worked hard to slowly make their way back, cutting the deficit to 9 after 3 behind Vince Carter. Then, it was Harris and Jefferson leading the way in the fourth, scoring 19 of the Nets 28 points in the quarter and taking the lead at 92 - 87 with only 2:10 to play. But they couldn't hold that lead, and it was off to overtime.

In the overtime, it was two consecutive pick-and-rolls with Gana Diop that got the Nets going, of all things. After being tied at 99, RJ hit a jumper and Carter canned a three to give the Nets a five point lead, and they would never trail again. Charlotte pulled to within a point twice in the OT, but Harris nailed a three to put the game out of reach.

One more game left on the schedule, against a Celtic team that probably won't play its starters for long. And then, Netsfans, to a long summer of pondering what could be...

Movers & Shakers
Going Going Gone? - Could this really have been Richard Jefferson's last home game in a Nets uniform? Rumor has it the Nets think they'll have to move him in the off-season, because he's their most tradable asset (and Vince Carter, owner's pet, isn't going anywhere). And he and Carter are too much alike, proving that even with Jason Kidd they couldn't get themselves to play off each other's strengths for very long. And without a better support cast, there was only so much these two could do.

I remember Jefferson's rookie season, where he would come off the bench and run like the wind, and play defense to boot. Of course, he couldn't shoot worth a lick, he had some problems staying in games because of foul trouble, and he probably thought he deserved more minutes, but he wound up being the sixth man of a team that went to the NBA Finals. He's certainly come a long way, to the point where he's been one of the leaders of the team, using his ability to get to the hole and run the break, plus play some lockdown defense, to forge his identity with his teammates and the league. Unfortunately, though, despite being a Top 10 scorer this season, he's still seen as overpaid (timing is everything - he was signed to the big deal just as the franchsie appeared to be crumbling from the first mis-steps of the Bruce Ratner era) and somewhat selfish as a player, which could make him hard to move for the NBA big the Nets need.

Overall, the pluses outweigh the minuses with Jefferson, but the team is in need of a shakeup, so whatever happens, happens. No one on this team should be considered untouchable. Jefferson might just be another in a long line of players who might be better suited on a different team, one that can use his skills on the break and on defense to help win ball games. The Nets could be that team, but only if they decide to keep RJ and trade Carter. Because after three plus years, I can't see them keeping both players for another season (unless they can pull a rabbit out of a hat and make Kevin Garnett appear).

So if this was RJ's last home game, it was a fitting way to go out. Outplayed thoroughly by Jason Richardson in the first half (outscored 21 - 4), RJ got some help defensively to slow JRich down, and cranked up his scoring game, outscoring RIchardson 24 -10 in the second half. And he did it in a variety of ways, thereby proving that he's not one-dimensional. If the Nets weren't in desperate need of a makeover, surely RJ would be around for another season. But who knows what the off-season brings?

No U-Turn
With the season about wrapped up, it's good to see the likes of Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and Devin Harris playing with some pride to get an overtime win over the Bobcats. Of course, as has been the problem all season long, there was no explaining the inconsistency tonight, nor the terribly slow start that found an inferior team practically running the Nets out of the building. Lackadaiscal play all around, plus the inconsistency, is a big reason why this roster needs to be gutted, since it seems like it can't find the desire to take a good, hard whack at the Bobcats, let alone tomorrow's opponent, the Celtics. Perhaps this was Richard Jefferson's last home game as well - if so, we would wish him nothing but the best, since he's provided a lot of good memories over the course of the last seven years. Can the Nets find a stronger, meaner Jefferson in the draft, or through trade? We'll find out soon enough.
- Joe