Jan.5 Preview; Nets At Bucks

[Streetball2k5]

<font color="Gray">New Jersey Nets </font> (11-19) @ <font color="DarkGreen">Milwaukee Bucks</font> (9-19)
Time: Jan. 5, 2005; 8:00 pm
Place: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
TV: Yes Network (New Jersey), NBALP

<font size="3">Head Coaches</font>

Lawrence Frank / Terry Porter

<font size="3">Probable Starters</font>

PG -

Jason Kidd / Mo Williams

SG -

Vince Carter / Michael Redd

SF -

Richard Jefferson / Desmond Mason

PF -

Nenad Krstic / Joe Smith

C -

Jason Collins / Zaza Pachulia

<font size="3">Sixth Men</font>

Rodney Buford / Mike James

<font size="3">Key Matchup</font>

Vince Carter / Michael Redd

Carter Season Stats: 17.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 32.6 MPG
Redd Season Stats: 22.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 38.6 MPG

<font size="4"><font color="Gray">Keys To The Game</font></font>

Play Defense ? We are weak everywhere on defense, a main factor in determining tonights winner will be who plays better D, meaning, we need to improve, and quick. Carter let Hughes absolutely destroy him last night, and we can afford to have the same result from the person Carter is guarding, in the case, Redd.

Run the offense ? No more settling for Iso's... It's driving me crazy.

Run the Break ? We have 2 super athletic players that can run and finish the break with the elite, and we have the best passing point guard of the last 5 years. Use them correctly. If we run the break we can create easy buckets.

<font size="4"><font color="Gray">Final Thought</font></font>

After losing to the Wizards when winning by as many as 11 in the third quarter, the Nets have to look to come back strong in this back-to-back game. The Bucks are coming off a huge loss to the Pacers in which O'Neal poured in 55 points, so they will be looking to do the same. I think that the team that comes out with more energy will win. Also, containing Redd/Mason will be key.

Prediction: 84-76 Nets

I made this because no one else seemed to be, hope nobody minds.

 

[Tesh15]

nice... nets relly need to win this since there playing the bucks..... cuz they keep winning 1 game then losing the next game.. they need to make a little winning streak to get back to the playoff race.

 

[Streetball2k5]

53-44 Bucks at the Half.

Jabari Smith has played awesomely! He has 12 points on 5-8 shooting with 3 rebounds and 5 assists. Solid hald and a nice surprise there.

Carter and Jefferson also have played fairly well offensively. Carter has 11 points on 4-8 shooting while Jefferson has 12 points on 4-9 shooting.

Kidd has 1 assist at the half.

 

[Next Level Game]

I don't know if the Nets are cursed, but other teams have made the greatest shots. I haven't seen so many continuations since watching And1 video. It's pathetic.

Krstic and Collins played horribly and not thinking. More Krstic than Collins. Vince trying too much. While he makes pretty shots, I doubt that's what is being drawn up. RJ has been underutilized for another game here and it results in a loss. The team needs a break to rediscover their offense.

Smith played well, good to see that the Nets have found a use for him. However, the rest of the bench wasn't there really. The offense is just a mess right now.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

Turnovers is all that I can think of right now. It just breaks my heart to see so many turnovers. The team does not seem to be doing what it used to do best: defend. The only positives, and there are not many from this game is that the Nets drew even in rebounding.

 

[jbbCourtVision]

Does anyone think that New Jersey's offense is stagnant now that Vince is on the team? He is mainly an isolation type player and he's playing on a team that preaches motion at all times. Someone has to adjust their game and if New Jersey wants to win, Vince has to move better without the ball.

 

[Next Level Game]

I agree with you one hundred percent, CourtVision.

 

[VinKanaddy]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting xpehbamxyu:</div><div class="quote_post">Turnovers is all that I can think of right now. It just breaks my heart to see so many turnovers. The team does not seem to be doing what it used to do best: defend. The only positives, and there are not many from this game is that the Nets drew even in rebounding.</div>

Well, no surprise there. You gave up two of your best defenders for Carter in Eric Williams and Alonzo Mourning. Granted, Zo didn't play much (isn't playing at all here) but you still gave up two of the best defensive options on your team for a mediocre defender at best in VC.