Game Thread: New Jersey Nets @ Los Angeles Lakers (Tues. 11/25, 10:30 PM EST)

[kdub]

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6-6​

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@​

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11-1​

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 10:30 PM EST​

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TV: YES​

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Projected Starters​

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PG: Devin Harris dunking on Lebron James​

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PG: Derek Fisher​

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SG: Vince Carter​

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SG: Kobe Bryant​

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SF: Bobby Simmons​

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SF: Vladimir Radmanovic​

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PF: Yi Jianlian​

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PF: Pau Gasol​

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C: Brook Lopez​

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C: Andrew Bynum​

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Key Matchup​

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Vince Carter​

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VS​

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Kobe Bryant​

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</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"> A lot has been made about how Vince and Kobe were the future guards of the NBA when they were drafted. Since then, Kobe has won 3 championships, Vince none. Despite arguments about the differences in attitude and mentality between the two, both are extremely talented and when at the top of their respective games, are unstoppable. Last time Carter put on a show in LA, he had the highlight of the year (360 scoop around Cook). Hopefully he can do so again, and try to contain Kobe at the same time.
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X-Factor​

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Yi Jianlian​

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Derek Fisher​

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</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="673"> After having his best and most varied offensive game of his young career against the Clippers, has Yi Jianlian finally broken through? No one expects him to score 27 every night, but if he can become more consistent and not become a ghost against the Lakers, he'll be huge factor that forces the Lakers respect him and leave more room for the other Nets.
</td> <td> Derek "Net Killer" Fisher averaged 24 points against the Nets last year. Always overshadowed by star players on teams he plays on, he is always a threat. A very smart player, Fisher will be need to covered adequately by Harris and Dooling to make sure that Kobe's supporting cast doesn't have too many contributors. Conversely, can Fisher contain Harris? Fisher is another strong point guard like Baron Davis, who Harris had some trouble with, offensively and defensively.
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[Accelerate]

Devin's not dunking on LeBron in that picture.

The Lakers are as close to a perfect team as possible. They have everything - absolutely EVERYTHING - that you could want in a team. They have developed a newfound defensive philosophy, great offense, a hall of fame coach, a superstar and a half, leadership, a great mix of veterans and young talent, big men that play big, big men that stretch the defense, outside shooters, a great second unit (which will be critical from the Nets side if they hope to make this close), hunger, playoff-seasoned players, a great fanbase and probably the sweetest jerseys in all of basketball.

The Nets need to play a perfect game - not just near-perfect - to come close. Should be interesting. I like the match-ups from the starting line-ups since the corresponding players play quite similar roles in their teams. Devin's critical in this game (well, duh).

 

[Tang Man]

Devin's not dunking on LeBron in that picture.

Just because Lebron has been photoshop out of the picture doesn't mean he isn't somewhere in the building.

 

[CalamityX04]

i wonder what the matchups will be.... we can match their 2 7 footers with our tandem of 7 footers... Simmons can handle Vlad... i think VC will "cover" kobe but on the flip side maybe kobe will guard Devin???

will our zone work against these guys?

 

[bling890]

Im in the library right now and i laughed out loud when i just stared at brooks piture for like 5 seconds. Look at his face LMAO!!!

 

[DevinNets34]

I would like to see what will happen with Lopez vs Bynum.

I believe we have a better center.

 

[MaxaMillion711]

360 scoop around bynum? Could have sworn it was cook.

Anyway, I'll be there at staples in my alt grey VC nets jersey cheering them on. Probably gonna get slaughtered though.

 

[JRon]

Beyond the Alley-oop in Toronto, Simmons played one of his best games as a Net vs. the Clippers the other night(11/9/3/2) on close to 50%. He still made a couple of his usual mistakes, but there were less and his contributions were more. I NEED TO SEE HIM DO THIS 2 GAMES IN A ROW. He does not need to be a focal point, but he needs to be hard nosed on D, help rebound, and hit his open J's; if he can do so consistently, he can have his starting position...but he must do so CONSISTENTLY...this game is a great test of that. C'Mon Bobby

 

[DaRizzle]

a great fanbase

I agreed with everything but this...just because we have celebrities as fans doesnt mean they are good fans


...as for the game:

For some reason within the last week Fisher has decided he is a star and is gonna take a crapload of shots. I have no idea what he is thinking at all. Lakers give up the lead when we stop feeding our bigs which happens more than it should even though we are 11-1. Devin Harris should sag off and encourage Fisher to shoot if the Nets want a chance.
I expect Pau to have an absolute field day with Yi. Its seems like Pau is just a better all around version of Yi.

Looking at the game log it looks like Lopez is doing REALLY well lately. I honestly expect Bynum to have a good game since he is taller, heavier, and actually more versed in the NBA game... Bynum is yet to have a huge game this year and this game could be a possibility.


Lakers by 12

 

[DevinNets34]

^^

Bynum isn't taller, in fact, Lopez is a 7 foot 1 big man, and Bynum at most is as tall as Lopez.

And Lopez is a bit taller than Yi.

 

[DaRizzle]

Oh well Yahoo has Lopez at 7 and Bynum at 7....but Bynum grew 1 inch since his injury....

 

[DevinNets34]

NBA say Sean WIlliams is 6-10, but it's not always true.

<img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/0b/fullj.5ecb81e08f9b8c17a0b4b80d346a1ad4/5ecb81e08f9b8c17a0b4b80d346a1ad4-getty-82921743nb0010_nets.jpg">

Lopez is a legit 7 foot big man, and we can say he can be listed as 7-1.

 

[Dumpy]

Keys to the Game for Nets:

(1) Rebounds. Since Brook Lopez has entered the starting lineup, the Nets have been dominant on the boards. Over the past five games, they’ve grabbed 58 offensive rebounds in 202 opportunities, a 28.7% success rate. Defensively, they’ve allowed 45 offensive rebounds by the opposition, in 195 opportunities, a 23.1% rate. That's a pretty nice spread; on average, they've grabbed 2.6 more offensive rebounds than their opponents, which would lead to roughly 2.5-3 points per game. To win, it will be very, very, very important that the Nets outrebound the Lakers (notice that I define it as the percentage of offensive rebounds grabbed according to opportunities, not the total number of rebounds), because . . .
(2) The Lakers are the best in the league at harassing the opposition into committing turnovers. Lakers opponents have committed 17.2 turnovers per game, by far the most in the league. In comparison, as a team, the Nets commit just 12.7 TOs per game (and have been around 11 since Devin returned from his injury). They need to keep their turnovers around 12, and not 17. Since turnovers usually lead to easy baskets, those five turnovers could result in seven points or so.
(3) STOP COMMITTING STUPID FOULS! The Nets send their opponents to the line nearly 32 times a game, second worst in the league. The league average is roughly 25--so that is roughly five free points the Nets are giving their opponents per game. The Lakers average 26.6 FT attempts per game, which is slightly above average. Keep it there. Every point will matter in this one.
(4) DEFEND THE PERIMETER. The Nets allow 41.8% shooting from beyond the arc, the second worst in the league. The Lakers are a good three-point shooting team to begin with (39.5%). However, they just take an average number of shots from there (17.1, 15th in the league), so there is hope that the Nets can overcome this. If the Lakers don't take advantage of the Nets' perimeter defense, and try to pound the ball inside, the Nets will have a shot. The Nets interior defense is pretty good, although it will be tested in this game.
(5) Production from the starting forwards. The Nets need something from Simmons and Yi to keep the defense honest. It won't take much: A 4-9 shooting night from Simmons with a pair of threes, and 12-15 points from Yi will make a big difference and open up the lanes for Vince and Devin.

If the Nets can accomplish four of these five things, they will win.

 

[PsychoNetsFan34]

Great post Dumpy. I think this is going to be a very good game. I just hope the Nets come out and play their ass's off. I'm highly highly excited for this game. (Just hope I can stay awake with that freakin 10:30 start.) LETS GO NETS!!!

 

[isrus]

I'll be happy if we keep this game close...doesn't matter if we lose considering our chances.

 

[FOMW]

Keys to the Game for Nets:

(1) Rebounds. Since Brook Lopez has entered the starting lineup, the Nets have been dominant on the boards. Over the past five games, they’ve grabbed 58 offensive rebounds in 202 opportunities, a 28.7% success rate. Defensively, they’ve allowed 45 offensive rebounds by the opposition, in 195 opportunities, a 23.1% rate. That's a pretty nice spread; on average, they've grabbed 2.6 more offensive rebounds than their opponents, which would lead to roughly 2.5-3 points per game. To win, it will be very, very, very important that the Nets outrebound the Lakers (notice that I define it as the percentage of offensive rebounds grabbed according to opportunities, not the total number of rebounds), because . . .
(2) The Lakers are the best in the league at harassing the opposition into committing turnovers. Lakers opponents have committed 17.2 turnovers per game, by far the most in the league. In comparison, as a team, the Nets commit just 12.7 TOs per game (and have been around 11 since Devin returned from his injury). They need to keep their turnovers around 12, and not 17. Since turnovers usually lead to easy baskets, those five turnovers could result in seven points or so.
(3) STOP COMMITTING STUPID FOULS! The Nets send their opponents to the line nearly 32 times a game, second worst in the league. The league average is roughly 25--so that is roughly five free points the Nets are giving their opponents per game. The Lakers average 26.6 FT attempts per game, which is slightly above average. Keep it there. Every point will matter in this one.
(4) DEFEND THE PERIMETER. The Nets allow 41.8% shooting from beyond the arc, the second worst in the league. The Lakers are a good three-point shooting team to begin with (39.5%). However, they just take an average number of shots from there (17.1, 15th in the league), so there is hope that the Nets can overcome this. If the Lakers don't take advantage of the Nets' perimeter defense, and try to pound the ball inside, the Nets will have a shot. The Nets interior defense is pretty good, although it will be tested in this game.
(5) Production from the starting forwards. The Nets need something from Simmons and Yi to keep the defense honest. It won't take much: A 4-9 shooting night from Simmons with a pair of threes, and 12-15 points from Yi will make a big difference and open up the lanes for Vince and Devin.

If the Nets can accomplish four of these five things, they will win.

I love it when you distill. I'll keep an eye out for those markers.

My biggest concern is early foul trouble for Brook and Yi. If they can manage to play with good defensive intensity and come out of the first quarter with 1 foul or less a piece, that helps our chances greatly. What would help even more is if they can manage to put their Laker counterparts in a bit of foul difficulty.

 

[footswalker]

Let's guess the line. I think Vegas will have this at about -13.5 for the Lakes and an over/under of about 204. I would take the over in a heartbeat with the way these teams have been pushing the ball and shooting the 3. As far as the spread, I say the Nets keep it close until about the 4th and the Lakers win by about 10 or 12. I could see Yi and Brook getting into foul trouble in this one.

 

[isrus]

How can you not have THE MACHINE as the X-factor!

 

[xflavioVC15x]

This game starts at 10:30 OMG. Im not going to school on Wednesday fuck it

 

[PsychoNetsFan34]

This game starts at 10:30 OMG. Im not going to school on Wednesday fuck it

Lol. I was saying the exact same thing...longer Thanksgiving break

 

[kdub]

360 scoop around bynum? Could have sworn it was cook.

Anyway, I'll be there at staples in my alt grey VC nets jersey cheering them on. Probably gonna get slaughtered though.

Thanks Max. Had a brain fart there.

I'll be in Sacramento doing the same!

 

[JERSEYS Nets]

360 scoop around bynum? Could have sworn it was cook.

Anyway, I'll be there at staples in my alt grey VC nets jersey cheering them on. Probably gonna get slaughtered though.

Probably been asked this before but have you ever had the chance to meet VC (signings, etc.) while the Nets are in LA? You should hand him a video mixtape or something lol. My friend and I agree that you should be doing the videos they play on the jumbotron at Izod Center.

The Jets beat the undefeated Titans, now all the Nets have to do is beat the 11-1 Lakers and I'm going to have an even better week!

 

[Accelerate]

I agreed with everything but this...just because we have celebrities as fans doesnt mean they are good fans

Forgive me, I just meant that the Staples is packed every night. I'm a Nets fan, you see.

 

[danxcr]

w00t game at 10:30... i dont have to dvr the game... i can just get home from work... and watch w00t love west coast swings

 

[ffz]

first battle of Yi vs Sun! How many millions will watch!? j/k... how come yi is always your x-factor? Can't u put najera or frank in there or something?

 

[adisodes]

We can do this!

 

[CalamityX04]

we got this!!!! no more thinking realistically and objectively! we got this!

But back to reality, i agree with the poster who mentioned that if Brook and YI can stay away from foul trouble we'll be fine (closer towards the end)... i'm thinking matchups will go Brook v. Bynum; Yi v. Gasol.... Gasol given his play will draw a lot more fouls than Bynum would... wish boone would play 2nite...

go NETS

 

[MaxaMillion711]

Probably been asked this before but have you ever had the chance to meet VC (signings, etc.) while the Nets are in LA? You should hand him a video mixtape or something lol. My friend and I agree that you should be doing the videos they play on the jumbotron at Izod Center.

no ive never met mr.carter. i really want to but have no idea how or how he can see my videos of him. i am not in lower section and very rarely am (laker games are too sold out and expensive) i appreciate your support and a dream come true would be doing basketball videos professionally. but no idea how...any ideas?

 

[adisodes]

no ive never met mr.carter. i really want to but have no idea how or how he can see my videos of him. i am not in lower section and very rarely am (laker games are too sold out and expensive) i appreciate your support and a dream come true would be doing basketball videos professionally. but no idea how...any ideas?

Come to Jersey for the next paint the town red event. I'd be surprised if VC didn't already know about your videos. They aren't living under a rock and I'm sure every player in the NBA has youtubed themselves. But it'd be sick to meet him and tell him it's you. Good luck man.

 

[MaxaMillion711]

Come to Jersey for the next paint the town red event..

lol easier said than done