Posts tagged ‘Nenad Kristic’

The Nets never had a chance on this road trip. Five games against teams a combined 50 games over .500 at the time, a history of failure against the Texas triple, an MVP candidate and hot franchise in the fourth game, two teams riding double-digit win streaks, all while integrating a new starting point guard into the fold. Even with those odds, you figure the Nets could steal one game, or at least beat the Grizzlies. Think again.

Only the Rockets, riding an 18-game win streak, stand between the Nets and an 0-5 road trip, the second extended winless trip in two months after dropping six straight out West in mid-January. Do they miss Jason Kidd? Did the matchup in Dallas with Kidd’s Mavs Saturday distract the young team, who struggle to focus without any unneeded stress? No, on both fronts. They have played terribly inconsistent, on all fronts – similar to with Kidd before the trade.

Finally, everyone can put the Kidd hoopla aside – we think – now it’s time the Nets truly put up or shut up for the 2007-2008 season. Since the trade, Carter’s quotes have sounded like a countdown, “It’s the next 28 games,” “25 more games like that,”, …, now its down to 19. Time to stop talking about finishing the season strong and making the playoffs, and play like it.

Sitting outside the playoff picture in ninth place, even if the Nets earn a seventh playoff appearance it will likely end similar to this road trip, four painless blowouts. Lawrence Frank needs to start using players with an eye towards the future, towards evaluation, while still trying to win in the process. How you say, do they do that?

• Start in the fourth quarter, where New Jersey continues to fall apart every game. Get the ball to Nenad Kristic. He continues to improve, working his way back to pre-injury form, but only does his damage early in games.
• Stop shooting quick jumpers late in games. It starts with the point guard and the coach. Devin Harris needs to penetrate and run the offense, not take 15-20 shots a game from long range. If Harris insists on shooting too much, and Marcus Williams continues to play within the flow of the offense, Frank has to finish games with Williams on the floor until Harris gets the message.
• Attack the zone. Team will continue to throw 2-3 zones at the Nets until they show an ability to beat it. 63 games into the season and they still quiver at the site of the defense. Before the season ends, just once, look prepared to attack the zone. Flash Kristic to the high post, penetrate the seams, throw a lob over the back line.
• Use a rotation that gives the best chance to win…and allows Thorn and Kiki to make decisions about players for next season. Is Trenton Hassell in the Nets plans? Does he help them win? Self-explanatory, bench him. Ditto Darrel Armstrong. Is Swift in the plans? Lets find out.

The rest of the season starts tonight, now truly in the post-Kidd era. More than wins, the Nets need to compete, not show up for half the game. Show some resiliency in the fourth quarter. It starts with the leadership – RJ, VC, and Frank. Carter and Jefferson don’t need to score every basket, but act like leaders, make the big play, take the charge, throw the extra pass, get to the line, encourage the new guys and young players.

Check out the podcast for more thoughts on who the leader of the team, it’s more clear cut than you think.

Some people just need a wake-up call to get going. Vince Carter took a standing eight count after a shot to the face from Brandon Bass, following Richard Jefferson as the second Net knocked out in a week. When Carter returned to the floor later in the 2^nd quarter, Nets trailing Dallas by ten about to have the doors blown off again, then something amazing happened. The old Vince Carter emerged.

The Nets ran off 21 straight points, only slowed by halftime, led by an array of dazzling Carter moves. Fade away jumpers, back cuts to the hoop for lay-ups, and the showtime drives to the basket off transition. Carter found the “zone”, rattling off 25 points on efficient 10-14 shooting after absorbing the elbow, en route to a game-high 29.

His partner in crime, Jason Kidd, commanded the game, dominating for a second straight outing. Assuming the floor general role, Kidd led the Nets to 21 fast break points, threading the needle on countless bounce passes to setup easy baskets. Toss in a few highlight reel lob passes among the 14 assists. Stats aside, Kidd controlled the game, forced the action, ran the offense, and even cracked a smile while doing it. Jason Kidd, enjoying the Nets play? Stop the presses.

Arguably more impressive than the Carter and Kidd offensive duo, was the Nets defensive effort. The high-powered Mavs managed only 84 points, and a combination of Boone, Sean Williams, Jefferson, et al. limited MVP Dirk Nowitzki to 4-16 shooting for a quiet 21 points.

Dallas shot only 36% from the field, but captured the first half lead with easy second chance opportunities, and a few layups on defensive breakdowns, leading to 18 first half points in the paint. When Carter reemerged the whole team came alive, started to box out and attack the defensive glass. Three-point defense, a recurring defensive problem for the Nets, excelled. The Mavs shot a putrid 2-18 from deep with the Nets contesting shots all night, ant Mavs having an off night.

In his second game back on the bench, Sean Williams excelled. Appearing refocused after Kristic replaced him the starting lineup, Williams provided a few highlight reel dunks and a thunderous block on a Nowitzki jumper that led to a Carter breakaway dunk, a microcosm of the night. He finished the night with 15 points, 8 rebounds, and two blocks, and exhibited good footwork in the post and nice touch from the outside. Rather than sulk after the demotion, Williams has stepped up.

The most promising play of the night might be a simple post move that resulted in two foul shots. Nenad Kristic caught the ball with his back to the basket, then put a quick baseline spin move to go by Josh Howard – reminiscent of the pre-ACL injury Kristic, the Kristic New Jersey needs. A small step, but Kristic emanated the confidence he lacked the first four games of his return, nailing a jumper, getting to the line, and crashing the boards for 8 rebounds. Knee problem, what knee problem.

While it’s only two games, barely a streak, this win was the most dominant outing of an otherwise disappointing season. Kristic, Carter, Kidd, a solid contribution from RJ, Sean Williams off the bench, suddenly the Nets have hope.

With Mark Cuban in full view, the Mavs starting PG JJ Barea netted zero assists as he watched Kidd tear his defense apart. Based on last night, Dallas needs guard help, albeit Devin Harris remained on the bench injured. Kidd played possessed, same as Friday, expect more of it Tuesday and Wednesday, during this extended audition. The question remains, if the Nets keep Kidd at the Meadowlands, will these performances come and go along with the trade deadline?