Henacy
JBB The Man like Sam
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Arena:Continental Airlines Arena
Time: April 20,2004 8:00pm
TV: TNT
Quick Game 1 Recap
The Nets got their fastbreak game going early. And control the tempo thru most of the 1st half. The knicks did hang around thru the 1st half. And were only down by 7 going into half time. But the third quarter did the knicks in. Poor shot selection & turnovers started the runaway train know as the Nets fastbreak. The Nets picked up their defensive intensity holding the knicks to 3 for 18 in the quarter. And also forced the knicks into 5 turnovers. The Nets outscored the knicks 24-13 in the 3rd. And led 86- 68 after three quarters. But things might have got much worse for the knicks in the 4th. Tim Thomas drove to the basket. And got fouled hard by Jason Collins. Thomas left the game with a back injury. And He did not return to the game. Thomas is questionable for game 2. Game 1 Final Score: Nets 107- Knicks 87.
Probable Starters For Game 2 ( and their possible impact on the game)
Small Forward [/B<font color="Red">](Spotlight Matchup) </font>
Game 1 Stat Line:
<font color="DarkOrange">Thomas</font>
MIN FGM-A Rebs Ast PTS
22 4-10 5 3 12
<font color="Navy">Jefferson</font>
36 6-12 5 4 21
This will be an extremely important matchup to watch for to reasons. 1) To see if Thomas plays after leaving the game early with a back injury on saturday. And 2) if he plays it will be interesting to see how effective thomas can be with an injured back. Thomas is already giving up alot of foot speed to Jefferson. With an injured back it will be even harder for Thomas to keep up with Jefferson.
Also in game 1, Jefferson did an excellent job of penetrating. And keeping Thomas in foul trouble. The Knicks will need Thomas to stay out of foul trouble. If Tim gets into foul trouble early, the knicks offensive weapons are limited to Steph Marbury & Kurt Thomas in their starting lineup.
On side notes: It was reported that Jefferson might be suspended for game 2, for leaving the bench. Sunday, the NBA issued a statement saying Jefferson will not be suspended. Also look for Penny Hardaway to get the start if Thomas cant go.
Power Forward
Game 1 Stat Line:
<font color="DarkOrange">K.Thomas</font>
MIN FGM-A REBS AST PTS
26 1-10 7 1 4
<font color="Navy">Martin</font>
35 7-11 12 1 16
Kurt Thomas was another knicks top gun, who was limted by foul trouble in game1. K. Thomas was never able to get into the rythem of the game. Him & steph Marbury, were not able to establish the knicks best offensive play which is the Pick & POP. K-Mart & Kittles did an excellent job of doubling the ball, not allowing it to be swung to Thomas to hit his favorite shot the mid-range jumper. Look for the Knicks to try to establish the Pick & Pop early in game 2.
Kenyon Martin needs to get establish early on the low block in game 2. If the Knicks arent going to use Mutombo in the paint on defensive. Then the Nets need to pound the ball inside to K-mart. With no shot block for the Knicks, K-mart should get alot of good looks in the post. He may also get key guys like Kurt Thomas in foul trouble.
Center
Game 1 Stat Line:
<font color="DarkOrange">Mohammed</font>
MIN FGM-A Rebs Ast PTS
26 4-8 7 0 16
<font color="Navy">Collins</font>
17 4-8 1 0 8
Nazr had alot of good scoring opportunities in game 1 due to the fact the Nets had to give up something when they rotated on double teams. I wouldnt expect the same type of game from Nazr in game 2. I expect the Nets to make adjustments in their weakside rotation to limit some of Mohammed opportunities.But Narz must continue to convert when the Nets leave to cover Kurt Thomas.
Jason Collins minutes were limted due to foul trouble. But Aaron Williams made up the difference off the bench. Williams will continue to provide some scoring off the bench. But the Nets need Collins to rebound, as well as get back to Mohammed quicker after helping to stop penetration. 1 rebound is not enuff from Collins at the starting center spot.
Shooting Guard
Game 1 Stat Line:
<font color="DarkOrange">Anderson</font>
MIN FGM-A Rebs Ast PTS
30 2-6 2 5 4
<font color="Navy">Kittles</font>
37 7-14 4 0 20
Anderson main job in this series is to chase Kittles & sometimes kidd around. And limit them with his defensive athletism. Well Anderson couldnt contain either in game 1. Anderson must make is felt on the defensive perimeter for the knicks or he will find him self on the bench early. The Knicks will subsitute him for an offensive weapon like Hardaway or Frank Williams. So if Anderson wants to stay on the court he must stop somebody.
Kittles imo set the tone for the Nets in game 1. He came out extremely aggressive on the offesive end. And made shots in the 1st half, which really threw the Knicks on their heels early. In the 2nd half Kittles impacted the game on the defensive end staying in front of Marbury on penetrations. And forcing Marbury to give up the ball. The thing that worries me about kittles is that he has a tendenacy to come out a little non-aggressive when he is coming off a big game. Well the Nets need Kittles to continue making plays in game 2 on both ends of the court. His shot making helps to set the tempo of the fastbreak game. The Knicks will have to make an efffort to find him on the wing in transition or he'll will bury the jumper. The effort the Knicks put into finding him will help to open up more driving lanes. And Kittles defensive on Marbury allows kidd to rest his knee on D.
Point Guard <font color="Red">(***Key Matchup***)</font>
Game 1 Stat Line
<font color="DarkOrange">Steph</font>
MIN FGM-A Rebs Ast PTS
38 6-14 5 2 13
<font color="Navy">Kidd</font>
37 4-11 5 13 14
The RJ/Tim Thomas match was my spolight match up to watch due to the circumstances that surrounded the matchup. But make no mistake every game will center around the point guard play of kidd & Marbury.
Game 1 Jason Kidd set the Nets tempo right from the start of the game. The Nets won the fastbreak pts & points in the paint edge due to kidd pushing the ball up. Kidd didnt shoot the ball particular well. but he ran the Nets offense like a conductor of a symphony.
Game 1 wasnt so bright for the coney island kid, Stephon Marbury. Marbury got off to an early start scoring the ball but was never able to put his print on the tempo of the game. The Nets often put long armed kittles on him & then came with a hard double team. The Nets forced others to make shots & plays instead of Marbury. Marbury had 0pts & 0 ast in the 2nd half of game 1. Game 1 kidd came out the better of the two in their matchup.
Game 2 In game 2 I expect Marbury to come out extremely agressive. And look to make things happen early. I expect Marbury to run the pick & role early an often. When Marbury is aggressive he is one of the best pick & roll guards in the league, so kidd & kittles will have their hands full. I dont expect that the Nets double teams will limit the aggressiveness of Marbury in game 2 like it did in game1.
Kidd on the other hand will look to continue to force tempo on both ends of the court. With Kittles guarding Marbury look for kidd to rome. and be a help defender, so the Nets can force turnovers. Kidd will look to keep the Nets fastbreak game going especially early in the game. If Kidd smells blood early, he will have the Nets fastbreak game ready to bit like a shark.
Key Bench Players
Game 1 Stat Line:
MIN FGM-A Rebs Ast Pts
37 7-15 2 3 18
<font color="DarkOrange">Penny Hardaway</font> was a major bright spot for the knicks in game 1. He made plays on both ends of the court. Penny impact on game 2 maybe even more important, especially if Tim Thomas cant go or is limited due to the back injury. Also look for Penny to handle the ball more when him. And Steph are in the game together. The knicks have faith in Penny to handle the ball & create plays while Steph plays the 2 guard.
Game 1 Stat Line
MIN FGM-A Rebs Ast Pts
14 0-2 3 0 2
Mutombo hmmm. I know your think after game 1 why is Mutombo a key player in this series? Well because the knicks are going to have to find a lineup that includes Mutombo that works inorder to contain the Nets fastbreak. DK is the only Knicks bigman who can disrupt the type of points in the paint edge that the Nets had in game 1. The Knicks need Mutombo's shot blocking. And his size on the boards. Look for Mutombo's minutes to increase in game 2, as Lenny Wilkens searches for lineup adjustments.
Game Stat Line
MIN FGM-A Rebs Ast PTS
17 0-4 2 3 2
<font color="Navy">Lucious Harris' </font> minutes & production were both limted in game 1, simply because his services werent needed. Kidd knee was feeling good so he was able to play close to 40 minutes. And Kittles shot the ball well so coach frank used him a the 2 spot for most of the game. But Lu will be needed in game 2 to pick up the slack if Kittles or kidd are not at their best.
Game 1 Stat Line
MIN FGM-A Rebs Ast PTS
32 2-8 3 3 5
<font color="Navy">Rodney Rogers </font> didnt shoot the ball well in Game 1. But it didnt impact the score of the game. But with a closer more contested game 2 expected, the Nets will need Rogers to hit some of those perimeter jumpers.
Better Shot Selection The knicks made the crucial mistake for poor shot selection in game 1(especially in the 3rd quarter). The knicks will needed better decision making & less quick shots. The knicks need to use the shot clock to help slow down tempo.
Establish the Pick & Roll The Knicks did a poor jod of trying to establish the pick & roll between Marbury & Kurt thomas. It is their most effective offesive play. They need to go to it early & often.
Force some turnovers The knicks need to step up their pressure & try to get some turnovers themselves. Try to get their hands on some of those J.Kidd cross court passes. Getting turnover will get the knicks some easy baskets.
Stay out of foul trouble Kurt Thomas & Tim Thomas need to be on the court as much as possible. The Knicks can afford a repeat of the foul trouble from game 1.
Setting the Tempo Early. The Nets set the tempo in the 1st half in game 1, the knicks were able to match for awhile but then the pace became to much for them. The Nets need to get off to the same type of start. The Nets of course do this thru their fastbreak game.
Shot Making The Nets made jumpers when they had to in game 1. That trend must continue in game 2. The Nets are a totally different team when they make jumpers blended in with their fastbreak.
<font color="Navy">Nets Adjustments</font>
Establish K-Mart in the low block early The Knicks dont have any shot blockers other than Mutombo, so use k-mart on the low post early. He should be able to get alot of easy baskets. And get a few people in foul trouble.
Weakside Rotation. The Nets can do a better job of rotating back to the bigmen of the Knicks after stoping guard penetration.
Henacy's Prediction
I expect alot more competive game 2. Steph will be more aggressive. But with Tim Thomas possibly limited I think Richard Jefferson will look to exploit that matchup. I expect a huge game 2 from him. And I expect the Nets to pull away & win a close game in the 4th. But the knicks will gain some confidence from this game. Nets by 7-10pts
