Nets Are Scorching

The Nets have officially avoided the dreaded “Worst of All Time” tag, grabbing their 10th win tonight by beating the Manu Ginoboli and Tony Parker-less San Antonio Spurs 90-84, at the Izod Center.

• Before we look at individual performances, let’s consider why the Nets really won this game: They played great defense on the Spurs holding them to 42 percent shooting and 38 second-half points, they hit timely shots, including jumpers from Brook Lopez and Terrence Williams in the closing two minutes, and they took care of the ball in an unprecedented way, only committing 4 turnovers, including 0 in the second half.
• Brook Lopez overcame a rough first half to score 22 points on 7-14 shooting, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing 3 dimes. He was even urged by TWill to take a technical free throw down the stretch, making the shot.
• Courtney Lee finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and perhaps the defensive play of the game when he sealed off George Hill with about 10 seconds left in the game, leading to a SAS turnover, icing the game for the Nets.
• Good day at the office for Devin Harris, finishing with 17 points and 9 assists.
• Tim Duncan was limited to 30 minuted, but was up and down when he was on the floor, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds on  6-15 shooting. George Hill led the Spurs with 19 points.
• Terrence Williams turned it on in the second half with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
• Rough game for Yi Jianlian with 8 points on 3-12 shooting, and apparently, an injured shoulder.

The Spurs are making their one and only visit to the Izod Center tonight, as well as their last one ever. Here to talk about the ups and downs of their season is Jesse Blanchard, from the San Antonio Spurs site 48 Minutes of Hell.

NAS: For the first time in a while, the Spurs are figuring to be in the back of the playoffs pack in the Western Conference. Do you think the Spurs are still capable of putting a run together in the postseason? Who are their most favorable first road mach-ups?

There are certainly a lot of if’s attached to any prolonged Spurs playoff run, but there have been signs of hope lately. Heading into the Boston game, the Spurs won were 2-2 in a brutal stretch against some of the best teams, and even the two losses were highly competitive. If, at the beginning of the season, you had said these were the results of that stretch I believe most Spurs fans would be okay with them. Then you factor in that the Spurs are doing this without Tony Parker.

Most of it is pinned on the return to form of Manu Ginobili, who is once again playing like one of the elite playmakers in the NBA. It’s been easy to forget how great Ginobili can be. When he’s on he’s just as dynamic a player as Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade–if slightly less gifted athletically. He can definitely get you a win or two completely on his shoulders in a seven game playoff series.

So, going back to the if’s, IF Manu Ginobili can keep up this level of play, IF Tony Parker returns from his broken hand with rested legs, and IF Tim Duncan can get past his knee issues with the rest afforded between playoff games then, yes, the Spurs could have another run. Though I’m not sure the first round matchup matters, so long as it’s not the Lakers.

NAS: I was personally excited for the Spurs when they acquired Richard Jefferson in the off-season, but his season looks like it’s been a pretty big disappointment. How would you best describe RJ’s season with the Spurs? How has the fanbase responded to his performance?

There’s no other way around it, Richard Jefferson’s performance has been inconsistent and disappointing. Though to be fair, I’m not sure the Spurs have done him any favors in misusing him most of the season. I never viewed Jefferson as a scorer, despite the offensive numbers he put up in New Jersey. He’s great at finishing drives but I’ve not seen him as someone who creates his own driving lanes, most of his moves are simple, straight line drives towards the basket. He’s a motion offense player asked to adjust to the Spurs post up and pick and roll schemes.

To make matters worse, early in the season none of the Spurs big three were capable of drawing double teams consistently so a lot of the time he was catching the ball and asked to operate with both his feet and the defense set at a standstill. Since Ginobili’s resurgence, however, the Spurs have been able to pair Jefferson with someone Kidd-like in their ability to make plays for others and he has played much better as a result.

NAS: One of the big summer FA names that doesn’t get as much press as others is Manu Ginobli. Do you see a scenario where he stays in San Antonio for the long run?

I would be shocked to see the Ginobili in any other jersey besides a Spurs jersey next season. The Spurs simply cannot afford to lose him. If he signs elsewhere, the Spurs are still capped out so it’s not like you can replace him with even half the quality of player. And already some of the season ticket holders are operating under a “no Manu, no renew” policy. He’s currently the Spurs best player and their best draw at the gate. He’s also been quoted as saying he’d like to remain with the Spurs, and I’m sure they want him back, so when those two things are true usually you see a deal worked out.

As you guys probably already know, 60 Minutes on CBS did a real nice 12 minute piece on Mikhail Prokhorov.  It is interesting to see how he came about his fortune (he makes it seem so simple), but there is some real good Nets’ related stuff in the beginning and at the end (you even see him working out in Nets’ gear).  The video of the whole thing is below, and check after the jump for my thoughts on the whole situation.

Read more…

Fresh off his 60 Minutes interview, Mikhail Prokhorov gives a must read e-mail interview with the New York Times, where he discusses more about the rationale for his investment with the Nets.

Dave D’Alessandro’s take on the interview: So when it comes to NBA ownership, it’s all about stacks of money – and a willingness to flaunt them – so that is what the CBS program made the emphasis of its 14-minute segment.

Here’s a preview of an upcoming feature on Prokhorov in Bloomberg Magazine.

Will Leitch of New York magazine has dubbed the Nets, the “Miracle Nets”: But this bottoming out of the Nets just happens to be occurring at the very moment a dramatic reversal is at hand. Riddled with injuries, middling talent, and plain bad luck, this year’s Nets may be as wretched a team as the NBA has ever had. But it is losing with an upside: The Nets are about to shed their East Rutherford skin and emerge, in the next two-plus years, as an entirely different entity. You’ll like this new one a lot more.