New Jersey @ Denver Tonight, 9:00pm Yes Network <u>Nuggets Projected Starters</u> Andre Miller DeMarr Johnson Carmelo Anthony Kenyon Martin Marcus Camby <u>Nets' Projected Starters</u> Jason Kidd Vince Carter Richard Jefferson Jason Collins Nenad Krstic <u>Spotlight Matchup</u> Richard Jefferson (19.3ppg, 9.1rpg, 4.1 apg) vs. Carmelo Anthony (21.1ppg. 6rpg, 3.1apg) Tongiht's key matchup comes at the swingman small foward position. It pits a battle between two of the league's up & coming stars on the wing. Carmelo Anthony, in his third year, seems to finally be living up to the demands of Coach Goerge Karl who wants the young start to become more team ornientated in the way he gets his points. The biggest evidence of this turn around in Carmelo's game has to be the rise in his shooting % from 42% career to 44 % this season along with his willingness to add a little bit more playmaking to his overall play. As Melo continues to adapt Coach Karl's team system and play making into his game, it will only make him that much harder to contend with not only for the Nets tonight but the entire league as the season goes along. Melo's counterpart in Tongiht's matchup is of course Richard Jefferson, only in his 5th year in the league, continues to show that he is one of the league's more complete small forwards. Jefferson provides the Nets with a little bit of everything leading the team in rebounding, 2nd in scoring and 2nd in assist. And arguebly the teams 2nd best perimeter defender behind Jason Kidd. Jefferson got off to a really hot start to the year but has kind of tailed off in his last few outings. And is coming off a game where he struggled(2-6 from the field) before fouling out against Lamar Odom and the Lakers. Jefferson defense will be test again tongiht against Carmelo who is coming off a 35 point night in a Nugget's win against the Clippers. <u>Bench Play</u> The Nets continue to serch for answers on ways to get production from what has been a very dissappointing bench so far in 05'-06. Besides, Jeff McInnis and Cliff Robinson quality and consistent minutes from their bench parts have been few and far between. The Nets will have to find away to sneak in a few minutes from their bench somehow, coming off a overtime game in LA, that saw starters Jason Kidd play 46 minutes, Nenad Krstic play 41 and Vince Carter play 40. Look for Coach Franks to give at least a few minutes to seldom use guys like Scott Padgett or Lamond Murray, as he serches and tries to buy his starters/key players some rest minutes. Coach Goerge Karl has a little bit more to work with as he looks down his row of bench reserves. Karl can rely on the small offensive machine Earl Boykins, along with a host of other solid role players. Eduardo Najera provides the team with frontcourt defensive verstilty off the bench, while guys like Greg Buckner and Earl Watson are noted perimeter defensive guys. <u>Key's to a Denver Win</u> Smart Point Guard Play.....when ever you face a guy like Jason Kidd, much of the matchup is mental more then pshyical. Kidd is always looking to put Pressure on the opponent and it starts with taking out the opponents head, which of course the PG. Andre Miller has to play within himself, something he sometimes looses focus of..he can not make this a him vs Kidd matchup, he must run the team and make smart ball handling decsions..when he falls asleep or gets lackluster you can fully expect to see Kidd picking his pocket and taking it the other way for as easy 2. Controlling the backboards...on paper the edge is clearly in favor of Camby, and Martin...but the key to the Nets rebounding is not their bigs its their perimeter guys Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson etc. so if Denver's guards dont box out and allow the Nets perimeter guys to rome on the boards Denver's rebounding edge will quickly be swept away in the Mile high air. <u>Nets Keys' To a Win</u> Transition D......Denver is a much better running team at home then the road. And the Nets much be aware of such. If the Nets slow down Denver's opencourt game, it will take a few of their key guys out of the mix, a guy like Earl Boykins, who kills you with his jump shot in Transition or even a big like Kenyon Martin who doesnt really step up in the half-court low post but looks to be a finisher in the transition game. Coach Franks must be able to go deeper than usual....coming off a Overtime game combine with Denver's Mile High air means that keeping the starters fresh will be a diffcult task for Coach Franks for 48 minutes. That means he will have to find away to get Key minutes from a bench that has been virtually none existent to this point in the season. But the guys that have been productive off the pine, Cliff Robinson and Jeff McInnins must continue to do so...along with solid minutes from inconsistent guys like Zoran Planinic and Marc Jackson...if Coach Frank can get 20 points along with solid minutes from the core of the bench that will put the Nets in good position to get a W. But as it stands asking for 20 points from the Nets bench right now, is like asking a homelss people for money, you already know they aint going to give it to you. But Coach Franks will have no other choice but to ask. Anyway only 2 keys to the game a piece today, hope you guys enjoy the matchup.
Good win for the Nets. They end the trip on a postive note. They played really well in the 1st half but couldn't play on the same level in the 2nd half. Nets weren't in a situation where they could lose during the game, which is good. They gave Denver chances to tie but Denver just didn't seem to able to. Kidd had a good game 13pts, 8 rebs, 5 asts but he didn't play like yesterday. He didn't penetrate too much and mostly stayed near the permimeter. It could of been due to fatigue but still a good game for. Carter and Jefferson both had great games and did what was needed on their part.
I really like how Frank has made Krstic pass the ball. He has come up with a solid amount of assists the past two games. Its good to see that the Nets were able to win this game against a decent team. I am very impressed that the Nets were able to win two back-to-back games.
