Preview: Nets @ Miami

[Ma3oxuct]

<div align="center">Date: Monday November 7th, 2005
Place: American Airlines Arena in Miami
Time: 7:30 P.M.
On: YES and WFAN 660 FM

It is a showdown of the

AT

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<u>The anticipated starting lineups are expected to be:</u>
<div align="center"><font color=""Navy"">For the Nets</font>

<font color=""Red"">For the Heat</font>

</div>

<u>Match Up to watch:</u>
<div align="center">

Jason Kidd versus Jason Williams</div>
Although Williams has thus far not had a great start to the season, it is still interesting to see him match up against Jason Kidd. Antoine Walker in a way has taken some of Jason point guard duties away, but I think that his role will be increased against the Nets, especially defensively. It would have been a flawless match up if Gary Payton was still in his prime today and starting instead of Williams. The other match up to watch could have been Carter versus Wade, but the problem is that in most probability, Jefferson would defend Wade. It will be very important for Williams to contain and pressure Kidd. If he fails to do so we should see more minutes for Payton.

<u>Starters Comparison:</u>
Miami's main offensive weapons are Walker and Wade. It will be interesting to if the Nets will be able to defend Walker. Will Collins be able to move around well enough to keep him under control? Jefferson will probably play defense on Wade because Kidd will have his hands full with Williams while Carter will not be able to hold Wade. This leave Carter playing defense on Haslem. This might become problematic if Haslem decides to play inside. Krstic's toughness will be tested against Mourning, but it is more likely than not that Krstic will be able to prevail over the aging center.

<u>Bench Comparison:</u>
In the last game that Miami played, it only played two players off of the bench. One was Payton, the other was Jason Kapono. Miami does not really have a center off the bench besides a guy that everyone probably will hear for the first time: Earl Barron. Therefore the Nets outmatch Miami in the big men department by being able to bring Jackson off their bench. In terms of other players off of the bench the Nets also have the advantage by being able to bring in the faster (than Payton) McInnis, the experienced Robinson, and Murray. The heat only has Kapono and Payton to counter this.

<u><font color=""Navy"">Keys to the Game for the Nets:</font></u>
1. Carter's ability to defend Haslem or what ever guy Jefferson would normally not defend against. It is important that Jefferson, who is capable of guarding Wade does not have switch over to guard someone Carter can not. This will create a defensive imbalance.

2. Carter and Jefferson combination being able to do what they do best. So long as they simultaneously place pressure on Miami, Miami will have to expend a lot of energy to prevent being killed offensivly.

3. Krstic's ability to out play Mourning. Mourning is more experienced and stronger than Krstic, but despite all of that, Krsitc still has to take Mourning out of the game so that the Heat really have to miss not having Shaq.

<font color=""Red""><u>Keys to the Game for the Heat:</u></font>
1. Take advantage of the mismatch that Haslem creates for the opposing defense. I will be interesting to see how Miami will make things tougher for the Nets defensively by posting up Haslem on a smaller defender (whether it be Jefferson or Carter). Even if Haslem is not the guy to will create the mismatch, it will be Walker.

2. Wade, Wade, and more Wade. If Jefferson can't stop Wade, no one will. It will be very hard to stop Miami if they get Wade going offensively.

3. Limit the production of Carter and Jefferson. This is the most difficult thing for Miami to accomplish. They will have to expend a lot of their energies attempting to guard both. However, the game should be close if Miami does take Carter and Jefferson out of their comfort zones.

<u>Prediction:</u>
If Miami had Shaq I would chose Miami in a close game. However, since there is no Shaq, I have to choose the Nets in a 10-point win. Around 100 to 90 Nets.

 

[j_a_d_e]

^whoa,10 points...lol

anyway, god points,well-taken...it's true that it would easily be a Heat W with Shaq,imo...But w/o him,all the Nets gotta do is contain Wade and probably Walker...For their offense, the Big Three should have another monster game...

I'll take the Nets,of course...

 

[NJNetz]

I have feeling if Shaq played we could win not by a lot but maybe by 3 pts. Now that Shaq isn't playing it's better for the Nets. The Heat are still a strong team despite not having Shaq but I feel the Nets can pull away with a win. It's going to be another exciting game.

 

[PlaTsanity]

Heat by 5+

 

[Henacy]

With or without Shaq..the Heat are a diffcult matchup for us...the Nets are consistently getting beat off the dribble out on the perimeter so far this year...TJ Ford/Mo Williams did it to us in the 1st game of the season...Kirk Hinrich killed us off the dribble last night in the Bulls game...so you know that spells trouble with Wade one of the league's best off the dribble players. Honestly, I dont have confidence any of our big three to guard him off the dribble.

Also Walker is going to be a difficult matchup for us..Krstic and Collins will both pickup plenty of fouls trying to stay with him out on the perimeter. This is a game where we are going to need Uncle Cliffy to step up and have a mid 90's defensive flashback and take Walkers versality out of the picture.

We also have to when the Gary Payton/Jeff Mcinnis matchup. If Payton out plays McInnis then that may offset the edge I think we have at point guard with Kidd/McInnis vs Williams/Payton. Right now without any bench production..it is crucial that the Nets have the edge at their key spots PG/SG/SF...

Wade/Carter is a toss up. Jefferson and Walker/Posey..If Cliff can contain Walker..then we have a clear cut edge there..so alot depends on the point guard play Kidd has the edge over Williams. But that could be offset if Payton takes McInnis to work...when the 2nd units are on the court.

Zo is going to be in beast mode for this matchup as well..Krstic and Collins cant back down from the pshyical play Zo is going to try to come with..

 

[kobimel]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">
Also Walker is going to be a difficult matchup for us..Krstic and Collins will both pickup plenty of fouls trying to stay with him out on the perimeter. This is a game where we are going to need Uncle Cliffy to step up and have a mid 90's defensive flashback and take Walkers versality out of the picture.
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OR, we could invite Kenyon Martin to the game, thus making Walker run home crying...lol.

Anyway, I think that this is a winnable game. IF the team can contain Wade, which they proven they can do yet, than this game's fate is in our hands. Collins and Krstic aren't going to have an easy job playing against such physical players in Haslem and Zo, so it'll be a big test of their toughness.

 

[Mr. J]

It was very funny watching Lawrence Frank react to that 'no call' on the final play on Carter. Other than that, the Nets did a good job making a run, but because they put themselves in that situation, they ultimately ruined there chances of winning.

 

[NJNetz]

WOW Im so upset right now. First the bad call on Jefferson and then a no call for Carter when he was clearly fouled.

Once again no help from the bench which also sucks.

The good thing is Mourning get posterized not 1 but 3 times. So beautiful....

 

[AirJordan]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NbaBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">WOW Im so upset right now. First the bad call on Jefferson and then a no call for Carter when he was clearly fouled.

Once again no help from the bench which also sucks.

The good thing is Mourning get posterized not 1 but 3 times. So beautiful....</div>


Uumm.. actually im pretty sure VC posterized Alonzo 3 times if the rebound from collins airball+dunk counts, and once by R. Jefferson...

so that makes it 4

 

[P.A.P.]

Two bad calls/non-calls late late in the games by the refs ended up proving crucial. Vince and RJ killed it today again. That dunk VC had on Zo in the 2nd half was tooo sick.

 

[Henacy]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NbaBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">WOW Im so upset right now. First the bad call on Jefferson and then a no call for Carter when he was clearly fouled.

Once again no help from the bench which also sucks.

The good thing is Mourning get posterized not 1 but 3 times. So beautiful....</div>


You hit it exactly on the head with your two points...Iam personally not mad Carter didnt get that call at the end of the game..yeah there was a little body contact down low with Zo...but the key play was Wade got him clean up top on the block. And there was not enough contact to get that type of call in the 4th quarter on the road. The problem I have is the Wade call on the other end, road or at home that is a awful call..I understand Superstars get certain calls down the stretch of games(sorta like a undefined rule) but come on at least let the guy come close to being touched if you are going to blow the whistle, Jefferson took a swipe at him 2 feet away and clearly came up with nothing but air. And the refs knew that but they had to make up for the call they made with Wade getting charged the offensive foul trying to drive on Collins coming off the pick a few seconds earlier. So that was the real reason they blew the whistle..it was a late make up call.

But anyway that doesnt cover up our major concern right now, like you said once again no bench production outside of McInnis. I know its still early but if Coach Franks has already lost faith in Murray to the point he doesnt play him..I start to get concerned...because Jefferson and Carter are carrying us right now but in the long run over 82, this is going to wear on their bodies...Carter more then Jefferson.

Right now, Linton Johnson doesnt play at all, Wright hasnt made the active list yet and wont..and now Murray seems to be out of the rotation. They have no backup at the 2/3 spot outside of Zoran. And Zoran isnt going to give you 20 or so productive minutes. So a wing that was projected to be full of depth really isnt based on quality more on quantity. There is a bunch of bodies on the wing but nothing worth anything..so now Coach Franks is trying to get by rotationing a guy like McInnis to the 2..but he isnt displaying the scoring that he has in the past either. But Iam most confident in his game coming around out of all the bench guys...I think his lack of production has more to do with adjusting to the system, since he was around for most of training camp and alot of the early preseason.

Iam concerned with Murray and some of the other perimeter guys, as well as the surposed bigs Marc Jackson(a preseason beast) and Scott Padgett have yet to show me anthing so far i the regular season. It seems like Coach Franks is scared to play Padgett cause every time he steps on the floor Coach Franks is quickly calling for him to come out 2 minutes after he checked in...seems like Caoch Franks is on the sidelines dancing for all two minutes of Padgett on the floor as he tries to buy time for Krstic, Collins or Jackson to get back on the floor. I could have sworn Padgett was a key offseason addition, what happened to the big time perimeter shot he was surpose to bring to the frontcourt?

Anyway, aside from Coach Franks reaction after the loss, the funy thing all night had to be the run in between Walker and Williams...Jason Williams facial expressions were classic...he look like the kid in the playground, who is really shook but he doesnt want to show it by backing down..so he throws on a mean face hoping the big bad bully, Mr Walker goes away. Heat fans are going to have a good time laughing at these two clowns over the next 80 or so games, I have a feeling that wont be the last of the Williams/Walker clash .