Nets Are Scorching

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Going into last night’s game, the Pistons were the worst three point shooting team in the NBA.  Against the Nets last night, the Pistons hit their first 7 threes, including a 4-4 first half from Charlie Villanueva.  Now a few of them was due to defensive breakdowns, but 3 that Charlie Villanueva made were just plain silly fadeaway-with a hand in his face threes.  Of course he saves them for the Nets.  Someone else from the Pistons who was saving a big day was Jonas Jerebko.  He scored 20 points on 9-9 shooting, including 2 threes.  It was only in 24 minutes as well, he probably could have done more damage if he wasn’t in foul trouble.  It looked like the Nets funneled things to Jerebko early on (which is a pretty sound strategy) but once he hit a few jumpers, the Nets couldn’t stop him.

For most of the game, the Nets offense just looked out of sync, they never really all that aggressive, and they never really hit a high point (like in past games), until the end of the third/start of the fourth.  The Nets went on an 11-2 run, attacking the basket and playing some aggressive defense.  I really liked the lineup that was in there, and I think that Kiki will be going to this lineup when the Nets need to make up points from here on out.  The lineups was Terrence Williams,Devin Harris,Keyon Dooling,Kris Humphries, and Brook Lopez.  What I liked about this lineup was that the Nets have 3 guys who can handle the basketball, and you just create mismatches.

Halfway into the fourth quarter, it looked like the Nets were going to put their 4th quarter woes behind them.  They were attacking the basket and taking smart shots.  In fact, this style of play got them a 1 point lead late.  Then, for some reason, the Nets just reverted back to their old ways.  Here are the shots they took after taking the lead:

• Keyon Dooling Missed a 25 foot three
• Devin Harris got to the line and made 1 of 2
• Brook missed a 21 footer
• Courtney makes a three
• Hayes misses a 24 foot three (rushed)
• Kris Humphries misses a 14 footer

Those were the shots before the injury besides Devin getting to the line and Courtney’s three (which was off of Devin’s penetration), there was nothing going to the basket.  Here is what Kiki had to say of the Nets performance late, “Guys are playing hard, we need to play smarter late.  That will come with experience.”  Some more thoughts after the jump.

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I’m sure all you sports fans out there are really focused on the Nets today on this Sunday since there’s nothing else going on out there….

Expect Bobby Simmons to either be traded or released in the next few weeks. Chris Douglas-Roberts is also on block, confirms Al Iannazzone.

In a profile in the Worcester Telegram, Tony Battie explains that the Nets goals for the remainder of the season are very focused: “We have that in the back of our minds,” Battie said. “I hate to say it, but that’s a goal of ours, to avoid that record.”

Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News gives a state of the NBA column and mentions how the Nets are one of 13 teams losing money hand over fist.

Another media outlet attempts to justify the Nets woes of this season by proclaiming, the Nets can turn it around next year.

In a game that ended horribly, the Nets lost 99 to 92.  The Pistons went crazy from three, but even with that, the Nets were able to take a lead late.  The shot selection got poor again though, and the Nets were unable to stay with the Pistons.

• The Nets actually got the ball on the play where the Devin and Jarvis ran into each other.  Kris Humphries got caught in the air and tried to pass it to one of the fallen Net.  Both guys were on the floor, and it turned into a 3 on 1 break.
• Until the injuries, Kiki sat out Yi (who was struggling) the entire third quarter.  Good to see he was coaching to win.
• After tying the game, the Nets had 2 well drawn up sets going.  But a bad pass and a dropped ball lead to turnovers.
• The best shot the Nets got in the final few minutes was a Courtney Lee 3.  There was a Brook 22 footer and a Humphries 18 footer when the Nets were down 2.
• Jonas Jerebko really made me look stupid for my pregame comments.  20 points while not missing a shot.
• Last night, we saw a player get hot late.  Tonight, Charlie Villanueva got hot early.  He hit 1 three, and then couldn’t miss.  I don’t think he was looking one time.
• The Pistons are the worst 3 point shooting team in the NBA (shooting under 30%).  Tonight they shot 67%.

Last week’s game against the Pistons was very similar to last night’s game against Boston.  Three very good quarters and a sub-par one.  The key for tonight is staying aggressive.  For some reason, in the fourth quarter when teams make runs on them, the Nets get away from what works.  They need to attack the basket for a full 48 minutes.  If they do this, they have a very good chance to get a win.  Onto the lineups…

Devin Harris vs. Rodney Stuckey

Devin Harris had a great 47 minutes when the Nets played the Pistons earlier in the week.  Unfortunately, that last minute was pretty bad.  The Pistons don’t have anyone that can keep up with Harris’ speed, so if he stays in attack mode, he can get himself into the paint, and he can be effective.

Advantage:  Devin Harris

Courtney Lee vs. Richard Hamilton

With the new Pistons’ staff, Hamilton hasn’t been playing as well as he has in the past.  Part of it is the new offense, back in their glory years, the Pistons would just run Hamilton off all of these screens, and he would get himself open for the shot.  They just don’t do that anymore, and it makes Rip an easier cover.

Advantage:  Push

Jarvis Hayes vs. Tayshaun Prince

It’s a shame that CDR’s move didn’t happen one game later.  It would have been fun to see Tayshaun go up against Chris.  That is a whole lot of lankiness and awkward moves attacking the basket.  But that isn’t happening, and Jarvis will be going against Prince.  Now if Jarvis struggles tonight, we shouldn’t look too much into it because Prince has the length to bother Hayes’ shots.

Advantage:  Push

Yi vs. Jonas Jerebko

It is funny, I gave Yi the advantage before the last game because I didn’t really know Jonas or his game.  After watching the Pistons game, I still don’t really know his game.

Advantage:  Yi

Brook Lopez vs. Ben Wallace

Brook actually had a real solid game the last time these two teams met.  What the Nets seem to be doing now is getting him in the post and sending cutters off of him.  What the sending of cutters does, is it prevents double teams from coming.  So at best, the cutter gets and open lay-up and at worst, Brook gets to go at his defender one-on-one.  I like that the Nets are using this.

Advantage:  Brook Lopez

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For three quarters, the Nets looked like a real NBA team.  In fact, they looked like a good NBA team.  They were clicking on the offensive end (they were getting it to Brook and cutting off of him so well) and they were playing very good defense.  In the fourth quarter though, the Nets were outscored 24-14.  In my opinion the defense held up (24 points for the Celtics isn’t a lot), it was the offense that let the Nets down.

So why do the Nets struggle so much in the fourth quarter?  Well, what I have noticed the last three games is that the Nets completely go away from what works in the first three quarters.  Last night, for the first three quarters the Nets were running the pick and roll very well, getting into the lane, and getting easy baskets.  In the fourth, I don’t think they even ran a pick and roll once.  Lets look at the shot charts by quarter for this game, I think it is pretty telling:

1st Quarter:

2nd Quarter:

3rd Quarter:

4th Quarter:

The Nets went from taking a bulk of their shots in the paint in the first three quarters, to only taking three shots in the paint.  It seems when teams turn up the pressure late (as teams turn up the defense in the 4th), they get away from what works.  Another effect of the Nets not getting to the lane?  They don’t get to the foul line.  The Nets shot 25 foul shots in the first three quarters.  That is phenomenal.  They only shot 2 in the fourth to finish with a FTR of 39.7.  That is still a very good FTR, but it is interesting that in a quarter where they only took 2 foul shots they only score 14 points.  Some more thoughts after the jump:

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The Nets lead the Celtics by 1 after three quarters.  Eddie House happened in the fourth though, and the Celtics ended up winning the game 96-87.  The Nets played real good defensively (even in the fourth), and that was the reason they were able to keep the game close.

• Eddie House didn’t have a point until the 4th quarter.  He exploded with 10 in the fourth and he really was the difference in the game.
• The Nets were aggressive on the offensive end for three quarters.  The fourth, not so much.  It is starting to be a common (and troubling theme).
• The Nets were able to get to the line 27 times.  That is awesome, but they only got to the line twice in the fourth.  Their FTR went from .52 (way above average) after 3 to a good (but not as good) .397.
• Devin Harris had a great 3 quarters but he kind of disappeared in the fourth again.
• The Celtics did everything in their power to give the Nets chances after chances.  A few turnovers, an offensive foul, and a overturned three happened in the last 3 minutes.
• Two plays that happened epitomize the Nets season.  In the first, Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries battled for an defensive board, knocking it in the hoop.  The second, Devin Harris played great defense (reading the pass to the corner and jumping it), gets his hands on the ball, saves it falling out of bounds, and it bounces to House’s hand for an open three.

Hate to do this to you guys, but I only have enough time to quickly preview tonight’s game @ Boston.  Now on paper this looks like it could be a blowout, but I like New Jersey’s chances at keeping it close (at least).  The Celtics are starting to show their age a little bit, so if the Nets’ bench can perform well, who knows.  With that being said, this could get real messy for Nets fans…so onto the lineups:

Devin Harris vs. Rajon Rondo

Advantage:  Rajon Rondo

Courtney Lee vs. Ray Allen

Advantage:  Ray Allen

Jarvis Hayes vs. Paul Pierce

Advantage:  Paul Pierce

Yi vs. Kevin Garnett

Advantage:  Kevin Garnett

Brook Lopez vs. Kendrick Perkins

Advantage:  Push

The Nets haven’t gone on too many runs this year, but in their last game against the Raptors the Nets went on a 20-3 run that extended over 6 minutes.  How did they do this?  Is this something that they can use as a template in the future?  Let’s take a look.

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