GT: Nets vs Kings

[kobimel]

New Jersey Nets (16-18) vs Sacramento Kings (8-26)

Projected Starters​

Stats​

Streaks- Nets: L1 / Kings: L2
Leading Scorers- Nets: Devin Harris (23.7 ppg) / Kings: Kevin Martin (22.7 ppg)
Leading Rebounders- Nets: Brook Lopez (8.0 rpg) / Kings: Brad Miller (7.9 rpg)
Assist Leaders- Nets: Devin Harris (6.6 apg) / Kings: Beno Udrih (4.9 apg)
Field Goal Percentage- Nets: 43.7% / Kings: 44.4%
3PT Percentage- Nets: 37.0% / Kings: 32.5%
Free Throw Percentage- Nets: 78.9% / Kings: 79.2%

Prediction​

Nets 97 - Kings 85

 

[Netsfan99]

Any news on Harris.

 

[isrus]

Keep Salmons and Martin fairly quiet tonight and this should be a Nets win

 

[nets1]

harris is playing, but so is martin for the kings...

 

[lukewarmplay]

Where are people going for game links now?

 

[King John da FiF]

this team is so pathetic.

 

[CalamityX04]

One day just one day it will happen............

 

[wireonfire]

The Nets actually went to Yi on the block and he delivered. He used to have a few moves when he was in China but never got much chance to use here. Hope it is a good start.

 

[wireonfire]

Career game for Yi!

 

[NJNetz]

I missed the game, so it came as a shock when I checked the boxscore. Yi with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Career game, right there. lol.

Can anyone tell me why he was so effective today?

 

[AhLian]

Great game from Yi. I didn't watch the game as I had basketball practice but I hope someone can fill me in on his performance? Stats don't really tell you that much.

 

[NJNetz]

I also noticed Harris played only 18 minutes...

 

[kobimel]

I also noticed Harris played only 18 minutes...

He left the game at halftime because his hamstring hasn't fully healed yet.

Yi played very well. It's one is his once-in-a-blue-moon games that you have no idea is about to come.

 

[FOMW]

What I really liked about the Yi thing is that when he was delivering with moves inside, Frank kept going back to him. That hasn't always happened in analagous situations, and it shows Frank is maturing as a coach.

It probably won't translate into anything lasting, but if Yi starts showing more confidence and aggressiveness inside and does a better job of establishing position and sealing his man down low, this game will mark the turning point. Tremendous game by the young guy, and I hope it's a stepping stone to a more offensively assertive, aggressive Yi. How wonderful would it be to have BOTH Lopez and Yi as post up threats?

Also, just as when Carter was ejected, Yi probably doesn't get this opportunity if Harris is in the game. I actually hope Harris misses another game or two just so the Nets can see if they can parlay this success with Yi tonight over another couple of games. Same with Lopez. I want to see more of the offense run through them just to see if either (or both) are ready to make a jump.

 

[ebc]

ha ha ha...

Congratulate nets for winning this game, congratulate YI for having a GREAT game tonight, Yi finally has a good game, in the game, I was a bit worried that nets can't win this game due to kings playing good. my rule is no win no great, if nets lost, everything is useless. Yi still need to keep up tonight's play for a consistent bias, but recently Yi show some good signs, he go to the low post more and more aggressive, keep up the good job Yi.

 

[djnswdjn]

finally a good game by Yi, kinda excited.

but according to the trend, this means about 10 more bad games for Yi is coming up..

 

[CalamityX04]

What I really liked about the Yi thing is that when he was delivering with moves inside, Frank kept going back to him. That hasn't always happened in analagous situations, and it shows Frank is maturing as a coach.

It probably won't translate into anything lasting, but if Yi starts showing more confidence and aggressiveness inside and does a better job of establishing position and sealing his man down low, this game will mark the turning point. Tremendous game by the young guy, and I hope it's a stepping stone to a more offensively assertive, aggressive Yi. How wonderful would it be to have BOTH Lopez and Yi as post up threats?

Also, just as when Carter was ejected, Yi probably doesn't get this opportunity if Harris is in the game. I actually hope Harris misses another game or two just so the Nets can see if they can parlay this success with Yi tonight over another couple of games. Same with Lopez. I want to see more of the offense run through them just to see if either (or both) are ready to make a jump.

Indeed a good performance for YI and overall as a team. FT shooting seems to be slackin but we can correct that. I preach, along with many, that YI should be "tried" out down low to show the post moves and Frank has been doing this lately, tonight YI was aggressive towards both Jason Thompson and Brad Miller and getting the and 1s calls too... actually YI also had a breakout game too against the Heat the first time around when Harris was out... he also step up when VC was booted in the DET game and stepped up as well against the Hawks after Frank was canned... weird... someone needs to fall for YI to believe! LOL...

Poor Lopez though, he's getting rattled but i have faith he will be better, right now he's trying super hard to get it right and just forcing things instead of being patient and playing his game.

glad we won this one, i was getting worried there...

btw, what team is out there with a gluttony of pgs? we need a 3rd pg because the whole Dooling n VC being our only set up guys will burn us eventually. NOT SAYING DOOLING HAS BEEN BAD by all means heck no, just that they need rest themselves and it will help us in the long run because it seems Harris, knock on wood, has a season of injuries coming...its concerning.

 

[Tang Man]

What I really liked about the Yi thing is that when he was delivering with moves inside, Frank kept going back to him. That hasn't always happened in analagous situations, and it shows Frank is maturing as a coach.

It probably won't translate into anything lasting, but if Yi starts showing more confidence and aggressiveness inside and does a better job of establishing position and sealing his man down low, this game will mark the turning point. Tremendous game by the young guy, and I hope it's a stepping stone to a more offensively assertive, aggressive Yi. How wonderful would it be to have BOTH Lopez and Yi as post up threats?

Also, just as when Carter was ejected, Yi probably doesn't get this opportunity if Harris is in the game. I actually hope Harris misses another game or two just so the Nets can see if they can parlay this success with Yi tonight over another couple of games. Same with Lopez. I want to see more of the offense run through them just to see if either (or both) are ready to make a jump.

I've seen Yi play quite well for the Chinese national team in the post when Yao isn't around and believe the skill is there. However what he lacks to be able to score in the post in the NBA is COMPOSURE. He just seem to rush everything inside instead of going through his moves and then shooting ball with natural fluid motion.

 

[Tang Man]

finally a good game by Yi, kinda excited.

but according to the trend, this means about 10 more bad games for Yi is coming up..

The Nets rotation has changed somewhat in the last 4 to 5 games, with Yi being given a more consistent run despite not playing so well in some games. So who knows, his performances may become more consistent now that he doesn't having to look over his shoulder every time he makes a mistake or miss a shot.

 

[FOMW]

I've seen Yi play quite well for the Chinese national team in the post when Yao isn't around and believe the skill is there. However what he lacks to be able to score in the post in the NBA is COMPOSURE. He just seem to rush everything inside instead of going through his moves and then shooting ball with natural fluid motion.

I don't think Yi has the build or strength to be effective as a conventional post up player (i.e., back to the basket). He might be good with it on some nights against some opponents, but he will largely not do well against NBA level defenders with that tact.

On the other hand, I think he has an ideal natural skillset for a short face-up game along the baseline or high post, if the court is spaced properly to allow him to put the ball on the floor for at least one dribble before confronting a second defender. He has a nice face up baseline jumper from about 12-15', and that, combined with jab steps and single dribble drives using his excellent lateral quickness, should be enough to give him a few isos a game in that setup.

He also made a very nice pass out of one such possession tonight when a second defender came, a bounce pass (while on the move) to a cutting teammate in the lane. Another good sign.

 

[AhLian]

I don't think Yi has the build or strength to be effective as a conventional post up player (i.e., back to the basket). He might be good with it on some nights against some opponents, but he will largely not do well against NBA level defenders with that tact.

On the other hand, I think he has an ideal natural skillset for a short face-up game along the baseline or high post, if the court is spaced properly to allow him to put the ball on the floor for at least one dribble before confronting a second defender. He has a nice face up baseline jumper from about 12-15', and that, combined with jab steps and single dribble drives using his excellent lateral quickness, should be enough to give him a few isos a game in that setup.

He also made a very nice pass out of one such possession tonight when a second defender came, a bounce pass (while on the move) to a cutting teammate in the lane. Another good sign.

He's thrown quite a few very nice bounce passes this year. Several to Vince Carter.

 

[JRon]

I'm sure this has been said already, but i'm too busy studying. just wanted to give credit where it's due:
Yi's BEST GAME AS A NET!
Not b/c he had lots of threes, but because he was aggressive, if not tenacious, on both sides of the floor, AND he attacked the rim! He also seemed as consistently "connected" all night as I've seen him.
We could actually be a force if we could get this kind of night from either Bobby or Yi every night, I don't care who.
...sorry, someone just smacked me.... got ahead of myself.

 

[Tang Man]

I don't think Yi has the build or strength to be effective as a conventional post up player (i.e., back to the basket). He might be good with it on some nights against some opponents, but he will largely not do well against NBA level defenders with that tact.

On the other hand, I think he has an ideal natural skillset for a short face-up game along the baseline or high post, if the court is spaced properly to allow him to put the ball on the floor for at least one dribble before confronting a second defender. He has a nice face up baseline jumper from about 12-15', and that, combined with jab steps and single dribble drives using his excellent lateral quickness, should be enough to give him a few isos a game in that setup.

He also made a very nice pass out of one such possession tonight when a second defender came, a bounce pass (while on the move) to a cutting teammate in the lane. Another good sign.

Agreed. Posting up isn't going to be his main game. The Nets don't need him to be either with Lopez around.

Agreed about facing up being his main game in the look run. However it would be nice if he can post up as well as a secondary weapon. Yi and Lopez have the potential to compliment each other's games quite well, which is a positive for the Nets in the long run.

 

[ebc]

I've seen Yi play quite well for the Chinese national team in the post when Yao isn't around and believe the skill is there. However what he lacks to be able to score in the post in the NBA is COMPOSURE. He just seem to rush everything inside instead of going through his moves and then shooting ball with natural fluid motion.

I agree absolutly, I know Yi's can and can't and already said in other post, Yi would be a good post player, would be very good, I say it again, he is way more effective in the post, especially in the deep post.

 

[ebc]

Other than offense game, Yi's defense game has been improved, he is a more consistent player due to his defense game.

 

[Tang Man]

 

[Tang Man]

Dave D'Alessandro was very impressed by Yi's footwork last night.

So what convinced the coach to drop it into Yi downstairs more often in one night than he usually does in a month of games?

"Well, one reason is, I know Mikki a little bit," L-Frank said.

Meaning, in the coaching vernacular, Mikki's a little light in the butt to handle a guy who's 7-0, 240 - even if that guy has 11th-grade footwork.

I guess Dave must have watch a lot of basketball and see 7'0" guys put the ball on the floor on the perimeter and then pivot for a shot every day. He should be a scout instead of a reporter.

We just felt sorry for poor Brad Miller, who was jostled and hacked so much without anyone noticing we thought his head would explode. With about 2:05 left, Miller was "blocked" by Yi (shoved is more like it), and he reacted by cursing right in the face of Derrick Collins, and Collins couldn't even get that call right - he ignored it as the teams started upcourt.

Yep the image clearly shows Yi putting both hands on Miller's back and shoved him out of bounce. Great observation skills from Dave D.

 

[Polkovnik_Alex]

Mike Miller was blocked by the bottom of the backboard if you look closely. I saw that during a replay as I was watching the game. Yi didn't block or push him, but he probably influenced the shot.

 

[wireonfire]

http://nba.cdn.turner.com/nba/big/leaguepass/2009/01/05/0020800502_500.flv

Download link for official nba vid.

 

[Malorkayel]

Dave D. is usually bitter. However, I would say majority of writers and fans were down on Yi. They instinctively takes jabs at him. The Nets this year was suppose to be utter crap. All the writers even local writers because they love and respect Kidd and RJ thought the Nets would fail. It didn't make sense to them how a team can improve after trading 2 of your best players.

Nets did improve, the credit all went to Harris and VC which they deserved. This kind of made Yi and Simmons easy targets as goats... which they also deserved to some extent.