Nets Are Scorching

The Wizards blew the Nets out of the water, putting up 123 points in their 123-104 win against the Nets.

• In what was the only bright spot, Rafer Alston had 20 and 8, playing well in Devin Harris’ spot.  Devin Harris not being in there wasn’t the reason we lost this game.
• CDR had 25 points on 7-12 shooting, including 11-12 from the line.  CDR finally had a good game against a favorable match-up, but it is going to be interesting to see him play against a guy like Gerald Wallace on Monday.
• Gilbert Arenas went off, going for 32.
• If you are going to let Gilbert get his, you can’t allow anyone else to go off.  The Nets D allowed Blatche to put up 30 points against them off the bench.   It was obvious early that Najera couldn’t stay with him, but Frank kept him out there.
• The Nets defense was atrocious, allowing the Wizards to shoot 61.5%  from the field and  64.3% from three.
• Brook Lopez only got a few in the paint tonight, and they all seemed to be in the first quarter.
• At one point, the Nets line-up was Josh Boone, Bobby Simmons, Najera, CDR, and T-Will.
• Late in the game Marv Albert provided YES viewers with this gem “There isn’t anything positive to say about the Nets.”
• On a lighter note, apparently Manu Ginobili killed a bat today…

According to Dave D, Devin is out tonight, and his status against Charlotte on Monday is up in the air as well.  Maybe this is why he hasn’t been playing as well as some were expecting.  More from Dave:

So they’re back to Plan B, with Rafer Alston starting against Gilbert Arenas, and Terrence Williams spelling Rafer at the point. The Wizards, of course, are without Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler suffered a knee bruise at Atlanta Friday, so he’s also probably out.

You already know how I feel about Terrence playing the “true point” spot rather than the point forward spot, but at this point with Dooling and Devin both out, it is pretty much a necessity.  Brook should be getting a lot more touches now.

On paper, last night looked like a moral victory, but to me it was much worse than it appeared.  Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but that is just how I see it.  A lot of mental mistakes which I guess can be expected from a young team, but you would think they were going to work the kinks out during the preseason.  Let’s see if they can get healthy against a team suffering from injury issues.  Antwan Jaminson is out and Caron Butler suffered a knee injury last night and didn’t play in the second half, so don’t expect him to suit up.

Nets Starting Lineup

1. PG – Devin Harris
2. SG – Courtney Lee
3. SF – Chris Douglas-Roberts
4. PF – Yi Jianlian
5. C – Brook Lopez

Timberwolves Starting Lineup

1. PG – Gilbert Arenas
2. SG – Mike Miller
3. SF – Nick Young
4. PF - Fabricio Oberto
5. C - Brendan Haywood

Their Mismatches

Fabricio Oberto vs. Yi Jianlian - Yes, Yi has been very impressive his first two games, but he hasn’t really gone up against a bulldog type of player.  Sure, it is easy to be aggressive against guys like Brain Cardinal and Ryan Anderson.  Let’s see if he can do it against a tough hardworker like Oberto.

Our Mismatches

Chris Douglas-Roberts vs. Nick Young - For the third game in a row, Chris Douglas-Roberts has a favorable match-up at the three (if Nick Young is indeed starting), he has something like 5 or 6 inches on Young, who isn’t the most dedicated defender.  If CDR can’t get anything going against him tonight, we might have to take another look at the whole CDR starting thing.

Matchup Of The Night

Devin Harris vs. Gilbert Arenas - Two games in, it looks like Gilbert Arenas is showing no effect of his knee surgeries.  Hell, he isn’t even wearing a knee brace, which is astonishing.  If these two guys get it going, you might be seeing two 30+ point 8+ assist performances.  It’s going to be fun to watch.

Keys To Victory

All Eyes On Gil – Gilbert Arenas is the only true scoring option on this team (If Butler is indeed out).  Sure there are a lot of good role player type guys, but if you can shut Arenas down (or force him into 7 turnovers – like last night), you have a pretty good chance at getting the W.

Get Brook Going Early – So what do you do with your young stud center who only played 25 minutes last night and didn’t really get into the game?  You get him the ball early and you get the ball to him often.  Haywood is a pretty solid defender, but he isn’t strong enough to keep him out of the post.  Plus he has looked real good at the high post.

Let’s Run – This team was talked about as a run and gun style, getting out on the break and making things happen.  We haven’t seen much of that team.  I mean every once in a while you got Devin and Brook running a two man break, but that is about it.  Let’s see if the Nets can get some running done against the three shooting Wizards.

Prediction

Current Prediction Record: 1-1

The Wizards have to be a cursed team.  They have a great big three, but it always seems that one or two of them are injured.  If Butler doesn’t play, I see the Nets running away with this one.  If he plays it might be closer, but I think tonight is the night the Nets get their first win.

Game 3 @ Washington (1-1)

Projected Starting Lineup

1.  Gilbert Arenas | 6’4″ | 215 lbs | 38.0 MPG | 26.0 PPG | 6.5 APG | 44.1% FG | 40% 3 | 76.9% FT

Had a great return from injury Wed. night, and was a little less successful last night.  He still shot the ball well and got his points, but he was very loose with the ball, resulting in 7 T/Os.  Plays the point, but has a score first mentality, and when Foye is the game, he slides to the 2.  He is showing no signs of knee surgery and has been slashing the lane at will.  The problem if you lay off of him though is that he can shoot the three, and shoot it well.

2.  Mike Miller | 6’8″ | 218 lbs. | 27.5 MPG | 6.5 PPG | 3.5 APG | 55.5% FG | 66.7% 3 | 50% FT

A terrific shooter and a terrific passer.  Knows Flip Saunders’ offense well.  Lacks athleticism, which means that he isn’t the best defender.  Must attack him with the dribble.

3.  Nick Young | 6’6″ | 200 lbs. | 13 MPG | 0 PPG | 1 RPG | 0% FG | 0% 3 | 0% FT

Just a guess here, Caron Butler hurt his knee at the end of the first half last night, and didn’t return.  Nick Young took his place, and he didn’t play well.  I think Flip Saunders will give him another shot.  He was forcing shots and has been playing out of control his whole career so far.  His brief look last night showed more of the same.

4.  Fabricio Oberto | 6’10″ | 245 lbs. | 17.5 MPG | 4.5 PPG | 3 RPG | 100% FG | 0% 3 | 100% FT

Despite not blocking many shots, Oberto is a terrific defender in the post and he is willing to bang, and take the charge.  A smart player who doesn’t force himself into bad shots, this leads to a high FG percentage.

5.  Brendan Haywood | 7’0″ | 263 lbs. | 36 MPG | 13 PPG | 9.5 RPG | 45.4% FG | 0% 3 | 66.7% FT

A good defender who understands how to help and generally has a good knowledge of the game.  This knowledge allows him to be in the right spot, leading to numerous blocks.  Offensively, he plays within the team strategy, and this allows him to stay on the court and be productive.  A very good foul shooter.

Bench

F/C.  Andray Blatche | 6’11″ | 248 lbs. | 34.5 MPG | 16.5 PPG | 6.5 RPG |61.9 FG | 0 3 | 77.7 FT

He’s phased the three out of his game and is not an effective midrange jump shooter, so now Blatche’s skill set is pretty typical of an athletic young big man with the exception of the fact that he is an excellent passer.  Defensively, his quickness helps him generate plenty of steals for a post player, and he’s also a capable shot-blocker. According to BasketballValue.com, the Wizards allowed 5.2 fewer points per 100 possessions with Blatche on the floor.  You attack him by posting him up, getting into his body and trying to score on him.  He can pick up a lot of fouls like that.

G.  Randy Foye | 6’4″ | 213 lbs. | 30 MPG | 14 PPG | 2.5 RPG | 42.3% FG | 33.3% 3 | 100% FT

A tough finisher at the rim who is basically stuck in between positions.  He isn’t quick enough to be a point, and he isn’t big enough to be a 2.  He wants to drive though, so you are better off letting him shoot the basketball.

G.  DeShawn Stevenson | 6’5″ | 218 lbs. | 14.5 MPG | 1 PPG | 1.5 APG | 33.3% FG | 0% 3 | 0% FT

Stevenson is a guy who likes to camp around the 3 point line and shoot when he is open.  I don’t know if he still waves his hand in front of his face when he makes threes.

C.  JaVale McGee | 7’0 | 237 lbs. |5.5 MPG | 3.5 PPG | 1 RPG | 75% FG | o% 3 | 50% FT

One of the most athletic big men I have ever seen.  Can jump through the roof, whether he can translate this ability to the basketball court is the question.  Think of him like Sean Williams without the temper and a little more basketball IQ.

F.  Caron Butler |

Probably Out

G.  Mike James | No Regular Season Stats

Picked up 2 DNPs

G.  Antawn Jamison. | No Regular Season Stats

Out.  Injured

F.  Javaris Crittenton | No Regular Season Stats

Out. Injured

C.  Paul Davis | No Regular Season Stats

Out.

Offensive Tendencies:

From time to time, this team kind of just likes to watch Gilbert Arenas work with the ball.  This team is full of young athletic talent, and sometimes they get into streaks where they just take bad shots.  With Caron Butler out, Nick Young is a big key for them.  If he is playing smart and attacking the basket, he makes this team hard to stop.  If he is forcing jumpers, there is nothing to worry about.

Defensive Tendencies:

Fabricio Oberto and Brendan Haywood are good defenders in the post, and the guards kind of lean on them as a crutch.  Gilbert is as good as he wants to be on defense, and Nick Young still needs some seasoning on the defensive end.  Mike Miller is slower than most SGs, so the best chance the Nets have is attacking him.

Keys To Victory:

Must not let Gilbert Arenas go off.  When he is on, it is a beautiful thing to watch, I don’t want to see it tomorrow.  Force them into tough shots, and attack the basket.  They like to get into the lane, so don’t close out too hard, because they will blow by you on defense.

A 10 point loss, not too bad when you look at it.  It could have been much worse though.  Jameer Nelson missed most of the first half in foul trouble, Vince Carter only played 1+ quarter, Orlando missed a bunch of open threes, and Rashard Lewis wasn’t playing.  Sorry to be negative (it usually isn’t my style), but rewatching the game, we just didn’t look good all night.  Especially when defending the three.  The Nets got lucky, the Magic were only 6-21 from 3, missing a good amount of open ones, that usually doesn’t happen.

It wasn’t pretty on offense either.  Courtney and Devin showed flashes of good shooting, but it wasn’t sustained.  Yi looked pretty good, but he wasn’t getting the ball enough.  Then there was Brook.  Brook struggled with foul trouble, and when he was in there, he just looked out of rhythm and he couldn’t get the inside position that he wanted.  Dwight Howard kept him away from the block, and Brook was forced to make his post-up moves 5-10 feet away from the basket, and that made him look uncomfortable.  On to the video breakdown after the jump.

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Because this video never gets old:

It was the Vince Carter show yesterday before the game. Here, he talks about regrets about not making the playoffs in his last year with the Nets. Julian Garcia talks to Lawrence Frank about how coachable VC was. Ben Couch recounts a shootout VC had with Mickael Pietrus.

Vince Carter talks about how Brook Lopez is going to be a star someday. Dave D. also has some thought from Vince about the team’s younger players.

Courtney Lee may have told NAS last week that he would approach the Magic like any other team, he does admit yesterday that he has a bigger chip on his shoulder when they’re in town.

Meanwhile, last night saw the return of Ryan Anderson as well.

Hardwood Paorxysm calls Brook vs. Dwight Howard the best matchup of centers in the East.

Chris Sheridan at TrueHoop talks with Magic GM Otis Smith who said they wouldn’t have made the trade with the Nets if Courtney Lee and Ryan Anderson weren’t both included.

In some non-Nets-Magic action, John Hollinger lists Devin Harris on his “All-Decline Team” due to his poor second-half performance last year.

Dime Magazine lists Brook Lopez as one of five sophomores you need to watch.

In a Time Magazine piece about athletes and the H1N1 virus (swine flue), Rafer Alston is quoted saying it’s hard to break the habit of shaking somebody’s hand, despite the threat of getting the virus.

The Orlando Magic are coming off a trip to the NBA finals and feature a roster that’s fit for a return trip this season. The Nets, by most accounts, will struggle to win 30 games this year and are destined to experience a lot of growing pains this season, especially in the early-going. That’s what last night’s pairing of the Magic and Nets looked like on paper. The end results didn’t deviate.

This was one of those games where I looked at the score at halftime and couldn’t believe the Nets were only down 6 points. “Superman” Dwight Howard had posted a double-double in the first quarter, en route to a 20 point, 22 rebound (and 4 block) effort. Brook Lopez, who looked like a superhero himself in the season opening loss to Minnesota, wasn’t even in the class of one of Lex Luthor’s henchman against Howard. Lopez was struggling to get any kind of position on Howard in the post all night and picked up three fouls early in the first half, and then two more in the third quarter, which limited him to 25 minutes and 11 points for the night.

As for one of the big headlines going into the game – Vince Carter got off to one of those fast starts where you thought he was about to get his eff-you Toronto game going.  The very first possession, Carter blew by Courtney Lee for a quick lay-up and two points. When he made his first three-pointer at the 6:39 mark, he even got a trademark, “VC, Three!” from PA-man Gary Sussman. By that point, the fascination with Vince’s return had passed for me, and I just wanted to see somebody stop the guy.

As it turned out, Lee was finally able to stop VC after Vince stepped on Courtney’s foot towards the end of the second quarter. Carter went down in a heap, spraining his ankle and did not return for the rest of the game.

But even with these somewhat ill-gotten breaks, the Nets were just never in this game. At one point, play-by-play man Ian Eagle described it as “an arm’s length” lead for the Magic and I thought that phrase just summed things up perfectly. The Nets would chip away, getting the lead down to 10 or 9 points. Rafer Alston even found some semblance of a jump shot tonight, hitting a pair of treys en route to 10 points off the bench. But the Magic always seemed to have an answer.

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