Thoughts On The Game: Nets Can’t Play Only 24 Minutes
Nov 28, 2009 Nets vs. Kings, Thoughts On the Game
GameFlow, Cowbell Kingdom, Sactown Royalty, Josh Boone Interview, Devin Harris Interview, Lawrence Frank Interview
It was a tale of two halves for the Nets last night. Going into the game, many were wondering what kind of effort the Nets would give. I talked about it too, but in the back of my mind, I didn’t really think it was anything to worry about. It was the Nets only chance to get a W in quite a while, so why would they come out flat. I wasn’t wrong initially, the Nets offense looked as crisp as it was going to be, and the Nets were getting looks, but they weren’t going in. That can be expected though, especially with this team. What was disappointing though was the defense, the Kings came out, just tossed the ball all around the court and ended up with easy looks which they made (they shot 60% in the first quarter, and put up 33 points). The lack of effort was noticeable, the terrific Zach Harper from CowbellKingdom said this in the Daily Dime Chat:
I don’t want to say anything about the effort of this Nets team because you guys know better than me but Lopez and CD-R seem to be the only guys with any fire tonight.
It wasn’t just the players though, Lawrence Frank made some curious decisions in the first half of this game. Lawrence Frank decided he wanted to go small (what else is new), and he did it, playing the 6-5 Trenton Hassell at the 4 for most of his 20 minutes in the first half. Now, when Lawrence Frank goes small, it doesn’t really work, and that was only amplified when you took a look at the line-up that the Kings trotted out. They had a very big front-line in Hawes/Brockman/Jason Thompson. This was the reason the Nets were killed on the boards in the first half (27 yo 11). With a very big front line there is no good reason that the only two PFs on the roster get a total of 11 minutes (they weren’t in foul trouble either). The playcalling from Lawrence Frank also left much to be desired. Brook Lopez outclassed whoever was covering him in the post that first half, and everytime he touched it, he seemed to get a bucket. The thing is, he didn’t touch it that often. Again, quoting Zach Harper from the Daily Dime (I am doing this because it is good to see an outside perspective sometimes):
Brook Lopez is having his way inside against Hawes. I’m perplexed by the Nets offense outside of him.
The second half was a completely different story for the Nets though, and dare I say it, Lawrence Frank made some nice adjustments. He came out with the starting line-up, Boone playing the 4, and stayed with it, the entire 3rd quarter (save Rafer entering for Devin a bit).
The players came out and gave a whole lot of effort as well. In the post game interview aired by YES, Devin said that the team “had an emotional halftime” so that might have had something to do with it. Devin seemed to return to form in the second half, attacking the basket and finding the lanes he was so good at finding last year, and although he missed a lot of lay-ups (those will come with more minutes), I was happy to see him getting to the line and converting. Brook also got a lot more touches in the post, and along with Josh Boone, the Nets were able to control the frontcourt. Speaking of Boone, he played very well tonight, for the first time in a long time, it looked like he actually wanted to play tonight, and it showed. If he can play like he played in the second half for the most part of the year, I will be happy with the effort. Some bullets after the jump:
Nets on the Net: 11/28/09 Edition
Nov 28, 2009 Brooklyn, Devin Harris, Losing Streak, Nets on the Net, Rafer Alston
Fred Kerber of the Post talks all about the losing streak this a.m.
Rafer Alston was putting the team first last night when he gave the starting PG spot back to Devin Harris.
Hoops World revisits the Devin Harris-Jason Kidd trade.
Net Income of Nets Daily fame continues his fantastic analysis of the Nets-Brooklyn situation, with another FAQ about what comes next now that the Court of Appeals has made its ruling in favor of the development.
Quick Recap: Sacramento Kings 109, New Jersey Nets 96
Nov 28, 2009 Nets vs. Kings, Quick Recap
Well, in the pregame thread, I said that if the Nets let the Kings get going early, they were going to lose the game. I hate to toot my own horn, especially in a loss, but that is exactly what happened. The Nets gave up 33 points in the first quarter and let them shoot 60% from the floor. The Kings remained hot for the entire game, shooting 54.9% from the floor for the entire game. They were also 50% from three, hitting big ones anytime the Nets got close.
- Looking at the stats, it shouldn’t have been as close as it was, but the Nets took care of the ball 11 turnovers while forcing 15.
- 1st half Nets were outscored by 17. They outscored the Kings by 4 in the second half, but dug themselves in a way too big of a hole.
- Brook had another big night, going for 24 and 11.
- CDR had a nice night as well, going for 21 and 8.
- In the second half, Devin Harris started to regain his All-Star form. Though he is still getting a feel for finishing in traffic (it will come), he was able to get into the lane and draw fouls. He shot only 6-22, but got to the line 17 times and that is the reason he got 25 points.
- Josh Boone played well too, going for 10 points and 7 rebounds.
- In the first half, the Kings killed the Nets on the boards out rebounding them 27-11. The reason? It might have had something to do with the Nets’ PFs logging only 11 minutes combined in the first half. Against the Kings’ large front line, Hassell was playing the PF spot. Frank stuck with the small lineup way too long, but give him credit, he did make the adjustment, and played Boone for most of the second half. The Nets responded by winning the 2nd half rebounding battle 28 to 18.
- Beno Udrih wasn’t supposed to play and I really wish he hadn’t. He came off the bench for 21 points, including three or four big shots after the Nets got the lead down to 6 a few times in the fourth.
- Courtney Lee really must not be even close to 100%. 10 minutes last game, and 3 tonight.