Game 18 Breakdown
Dec 4, 2009 Nets vs. Mavs, Video Breakdown, Xs and Os
Ah the record breaker. Before we look at some stuff in depth, I wanted to post this awesome video by Rob Mahoney of the Truehoop Network’s Dallas Mavericks blog, The Two Man Game:
Alright, back to the breakdown. As you might expect, we are going to look exclusively at the second quarter. You know, the one where the Nets gave up 49 points. The Mavericks shot over 80% in the first half, and the reason was the Nets defense gave up too many wide-open looks, due to very poor rotation:
Thoughts On the Game: Nets Are History
Dec 3, 2009 2009-2010 Regular Season, Nets vs. Mavs, Thoughts On the Game
AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
GameFlow, Two Man Game, Mavs Money Ball, Devin Harris Interview, Tom Barrise Interview
As someone who has followed the Nets closely and loyally for nearly 20 years, I’ve experienced a lot of pain and suffering. I’ve had to endure the unrealized potential of Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson, the death of Drazen Petrovic, Dwayne Schintzius and Yinka Dare, draft busts like Ed O’Bannon and Marcus Williams, Coach “Cal” John Calipari, the penny-pinching trade of Kenyon Martin and Jason Kidd’s “migraine.” So, you have to believe me when I say the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets are not the worst Nets team I’ve ever seen.
Yet, at 0-18, the record books may beg to differ. The Nets are now sole owners of the worst start in NBA history, and if they continue to play basketball the way they did in last night’s second quarter against the Mavericks, I think it’s going to be a real long while before the Nets register their first win of the season.
That second quarter was an out and out embarrassment. The Nets allowed 49 points to the Mavs on 17-19 shooting. And it wasn’t like Dallas was just getting lucky either. The Nets were leaving shooters wide open like Tim Thomas at the 7:59 mark of the quarter, and then Dirk Nowitzki (24 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists) of all people was left all alone at the top of the key behind the three point line at the 3:55 mark. Erick Dampier (18 points, 11 rebounds) was dominating in the post, grabbing offensive boards, and continuing the trend of big, burly centers giving Brook Lopez (16 points, 2-6 shooting) fits.
I could quibble about the fact that interim coach Tom Barrise stuck with Trenton Hassell and Josh Boone for too long in the second quarter. The Nets second unit actually had done a nice job keeping the game tied at 28 after one, and keeping the game close about 4 minutes into the second quarter when Barrise went with his “first string” again. That’s when the floodgates opened. Guys are getting healthy now. It’s time for Trenton Hassell and Josh Boone to go back to the bench where they belong.
But what was most alarming about the game, was even with historic futility staring these players straight in the face, the continued to play without any real urgency. As the the Mavericks went nuts in the second quarter, you could just see the Nets body language: “Here we go again.” Brook Lopez and Chris Douglas-Roberts had their typical looks of anguish and despondence. Devin Harris had his usual (and puzzling) look of indifference. Josh Boone looked like there were 500 other places he’d rather be than guarding Dirk Nowitzki.
Case in point, at the around the 6:54 mark in the third, Chris Douglas-Roberts made an errant pass and was staring down a fast break with Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion coming straight at him. Marion and Kidd were passing the ball back and forth, and were taking so much time, they were practically begging the Nets to get back on defense and stop them. Yet, besides CDR, not a single white shirt appeared in the frame for the entire play. By the time Kidd laid the ball in, CDR threw his hands up in disgust, and you could more or less see him mouth something to his teammates. The bottom line? One would think that a group of professional athletes wouldn’t want to be known as a bunch of “losers,” but that’s what they looked like last night. And yes, that’s what they’ve become.
As the final second of the game ticked off, whoever was remaining at the Izod Center booed the team heartily. I was kind of shocked by this reaction, because a lot of this losing streak has been a matter of circumstance. The team was especially unlucky with injuries and just some heartbreaking inexplicable losses. How can you boo guys for that?
But then I think about a quote the great Bill Parcells, “you are who your record says you are.” The booing may be an odd response, but I can understand people’s patience wearing thin. This team is no longer as decimated by injury as they were three weeks ago. The time for this team to start coming together is upon us. I wish Kiki Vandeweghe all the luck in the world, because the Nets currently resemble a dysfunctional bunch that’s incapable of putting four quarters of competent offensive and defensive basketball together. If they keep this up, the Nets will surely be challenging more records for futility this season.
Final Thoughts after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
Game 18 Preview vs. Dallas Mavericks
Dec 2, 2009 Game Previews, Nets vs. Mavs
Tom Barrise is coaching the team again tonight, with Kiki taking over Friday. A lot of people are saying that this is happening because Kiki doesn’t want to be affiliated with the record, but he already is, I mean, he is the one who built this team. So why is Barrise coaching tonight then? Well, usually when teams scout, they scout a few games in advance. My guess is that Lawrence Frank already had a gameplan implemented for this game, and they are just using Barrise to execute that gameplan. Also, it gives Del Harris time to get familiar with the team. I mean a few days ago, he was the GM on the D-League’s new Frisco team (who still doesn’t have a name), so I am guessing he didn’t go out of his way to watch the Nets. I don’t know if he is going to be on the bench tonight, but he is going to be watching, taking notes, and trying to figure out who to play where. Anyway, here are the lineups:
Devin Harris vs. Jason Kidd:
Last year Devin went off for 41 against the Mavericks. A lot of people were talking about him wanting revenge, and that was the motivation. I just think it is a poor match-up for Kidd. I mean Kidd is still a great passing point guard, but he is up there in age, and isn’t as fast as he used to be. Devin Harris’ strength is Jason Kidd’s weakness.
Advantage: Devin Harris
CDR vs. Rodrigue Beaubois
Chris Douglas-Roberts struggled last game. I don’t know if it was that he was going against Kobe, or if it was him just burning out after falling behind early. I wouldn’t be too worried though, and at 6-0, Rodrigue Beaubois CDR has the clear height advantage. Look for him to have a real bounce-back game tonight.
Advantage: CDR
Trenton Hassell vs. Shawn Marion
I don’t think Courtney Lee is going to get the start tonight, so we are going to see Hassell at the 3. As for Shawn Marion, it took him a little while to get going this year, but he has scored 12+ points in each of his last four games. Look for that to continue.
Advantage: Shawn Marion
Josh Boone vs. Dirk Nowitzki
I already talked about Dirk at length today, but I did want to add something. Josh Boone is going to get the start more than likely, but I still think Sean Williams is the best option against him. Granted, Sean Williams is probably going to foul out in like 5 minutes, but boy is that going to be a tough 5 minutes for Dirk.
Advantage: Dirk Nowitzki
Brook Lopez vs. Erick Dampier
I think that Dampier is going to give Brook some trouble tonight. Dampier is a physical player who uses that to his advantage. Dampier is going to push Brook out of the post and force him to catch it farther out. Expect to see a good number of jumpers from Brook tonight.
Advantage: Brook Lopez
Prediction
Current Record: 10-7
After tonight you can refer to the Nets as the “record-breaking New Jersey Nets.” Whenever someone who doesn’t watch basketball ask you, “what record?” Just ignore them.