Nets vs Rockets: Game Thread

[kobimel]

<div align="center">

vs

<font color=""Navy"">New Jersey Nets(11-17) </font>vs <font color=""red"">Houston Rockets</font>(16-12)
Time: Wesneday, December 27, 2006 7:30 EST
TV: YES
Away/Home</div>

The Nets are coming off a hearbreaking and controversial loss to the Detroit Pistons at the Palace, 92-91, and will try to bounce back and start winning tonight against a powerful Rockets team. Houston is without Yao Ming, but with Tracy McGrady, who returned from an injury not too long ago himself. The Nets are without Nenad Krstic, whose injury was a big hit to the Nets, and Lawrence Frank will have to find a way to fill in the whole Krstic's injury made in the frontcourt and avoid losing 4 straight games.

Starting Lineups:

New Jersey Nets:

PG:Jason Kidd
SG:Vince Carter
SF:Richard Jefferson
PF:Mikki Moore
C:Jason Collins

Houston Rockets:

PG:Rafer Alston
SG:Tracy McGrady
SF:Shane Battier
PF:Juwan Howard
Cikembe Mutombo

Keys to the Game:

-The Nets can't settle for too many jumpshots, despite having no real prescence in the paint. You can't beat a talented team like Houston with jumpshots.

-The Rockets have very little frontcourt depth: if the Nets can get Howard or even better, Mutombo, in foul trouble, "Houston, will have a problem".

Prediction: Nets by 6

 

[Legacy]

We are playing against the Rockets without Yao Ming. Without him, the Nets and Rockets don't have inside presence. We will have to bounce back strong. Hopefully we win.

 

[umair]

Tracy McGrady will need to bring his "A" game to beat the Nets, and the supporting cast of the Rockets will also need to step up.

 

[NJNetz]

Ugly start. You think we would play better after yesterday.


Carter is playing......bad.

 

[NJNetz]

What the hell is going on? How many crappy games can you have, before you start winning some?

 

[Legacy]

Down by 10. VC is 2-10. The struggling T-Mac is playing better. I don't know what the hell is up with Vince.

 

[NJNetz]

I don't know how long it takes to realize we need a change. Do I want it? No, but we don't have much choice. Either we get KG or we start rebuilding.

Let's go Thorn.

 

[Next Level Game]

I think I'm about to rip my eyes out.

 

[umair]

<div class="quote_poster">Carter Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know what the hell is up with Vince.</div>

I got 7 letters for you. B-A-T-T-I-E-R

 

[Legacy]

You would think that after a few losses in a row, including that heartbreaking loss last night, that we would step up. Down by 10 maybe, but down by nearly 20 is just ridiculous. Vince needs to get his ass out of his little slump and jump shooting is not gonna help. RJ who has played average this year, is struggling also when we need him to step up. Krstic is out so we don't really have another scoring option anymore besides Kidd but he is 2-8. The big three is shooting a combined 10-45 from the field. I am lost for words. The game is not over yet, but you could count this as a loss already. With they way we have been playing and looking at the score there is no way in hell that we are gonna catchup from this margin. I just don't know anymore. Rod Thorn must make a move now before we slip to the bottom of the Atlantic division.

 

[umair]

Man Boki Nachbar is shooting like he is Nowitzki.

 

[NJNetz]

If I had to describe the game.

 

[thedude9990]

wow this is like a shot season like wtf were spoce to be this great team and then this happens we cant get one good possesion we cant get a damn rebound the only reason we are still in the playoff hunt is because we play in the atlantic

 

[NJNetz]

 

[umair]

Kidd= 11 points
Carter= 12 points <font size=""3"">=</font>34 points = <font size=""4"">Good defense by Houston</font>
Jefferson= 11 points

 

[umair]

Kidd= 11 points
Carter= 12 points <font size=""3"">=</font> <font size=""3"">34 points</font> = <font size=""4"">Great defense by Houston</font>
Jefferson= 11 points

 

[Intrepid1983]

Wow.. nets suck.
If Carter doesnt step up, the rest of the team wont either... now what was everyone saying? the Big 3? Haha more like the big 1 which is Carter. If Carter doesn't perform highlight reel stuff, then the Nets don't win. I remember everyone talking about how expendible Carter was when the Nets were winning. Now that Carter isn't trying, this is the real Nets.

 

[Next Level Game]

<div class="quote_poster">intrepid1983 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wow.. nets suck.
If Carter doesnt step up, the rest of the team wont either... now what was everyone saying? the Big 3? Haha more like the big 1 which is Carter. If Carter doesn't perform highlight reel stuff, then the Nets don't win. I remember everyone talking about how expendible Carter was when the Nets were winning. Now that Carter isn't trying, this is the real Nets.</div>

Without Carter trying to score, then he's just taking up ball time. RJ played well in the first half and Kidd was playing well entirely. Otherwise it's just Carter dominating and over dribbling before jacking up a horrible shot. They are more efficient without him. Only reason he's on the court is cause if he's on fire, his overdribbling actually ends up looking good.

 

[thedude9990]

how come all the blames giong on carter, jefferson who is spoce to be a rising star had just as bad a game as carter and no ones saying anything about jefferson

 

[NJNetz]

<div class="quote_poster">thedude9990 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">how come all the blames giong on carter, jefferson who is spoce to be a rising star had just as bad a game as carter and no ones saying anything about jefferson</div>

I agree that RJ should get some of the blame, but then again he doesn't get the ball as much as Carter. He doesn't get a chance to go on fire when he is struggling, because Carter ends up having most of the touches. Carter gets more chances to get his flow back into the game while RJ doesn't

 

[thedude9990]

if i remember correctly vince was 4-16 rj was 5-15, sure rj shot it a little better but its nothing incredible, and i think vince had more points, anyways shame on vince and rj shame shame

 

[Next Level Game]

You're right, Jefferson does get his fair share of blame. He hasn't been as efficient as he used to be. Trying to do things he's not normally known to doing. He's starting to take too many dribbles and putting up contested shots. I know he worked on his jumper all summer, but he should stick with what he knows. Also his ankle possibly needing surgery could be a limiting factor too. He just doesn't have the explosiveness we've usually seen from him.

But I still place blame on Carter not being the player he was last year. Jason's worked well with his off ball movement so he doesn't need to dominate the ball and it opens up Carter to do his thing, but at the same time, I expect Vince to be playing at a level that matches Kidd...but he just hasn't. I hope he gets it together soon.

 

[Intrepid1983]

Carter prolly wants to leave, he's such a traitor to any team he's on, usually i guess it takes about 3 years or so like T.O. But another note, I think they should all share the blame. It shouldn't always solely be on Carter to take the blame. Jason Kidd is more the leader of the team than Carter.