<div align="center"> <div align="center">vs. </div> <font color="DarkRed"> </font> <div align="center"><font color="Blue">The New Jersey Nets</font> (22-20) vs <font color="DimGray"><font color="Red">The Detroit Pistons</font> <font color="Black">(37-5)</font></font> Time: Tuesday , January 31st, 7:30 PM Location: <font color="Blue">Continential Airlines Arena</font> </div> <div align="center"><font color="Blue"><font color="Black">TV: Yes Network</font></font> <font color="Blue"><font color="Black"> Radio: WFAN 660 AM</font></font> </div> <font color="Blue"> </font>[div=50%]The Pistons are undoubtedly the best team in the league. Thier current coach is showing that perhaps Larry Brown was not as good of a couch as he is slated to be. Detroit simply has very good players. None of thier players are superstars, but thier starting five consists of very good players. The Chemistry of this team is astounding, and game in and game out they are showing that they can beat any team in the league. If they keep going at the pace at which they are going they will have a 72-10 record. Projected Starters Point Guard: <font color="DeepSkyBlue"><font color="Red">Chauncey Billups</font> </font>[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/chauncey_billups.jpg[/imgl] At the current age and condition of Kidd, Billups is certainly above him. Billups has been having a career season, averaging 19 points and dishing out 8.6 assists. He is shooting remarkably well from three point territory, and playing solid defense. Shooting Guard: <font color="Red">Richard Hamilton</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/richard_hamilton.jpg[/imgl] He is the perfect complement for Billups in the fast break, and is able to make all of the open shots that come to him from other teams playing up on other players. If Vince Carter is guarding him, then Hamilton will be able to explode for many points. Small Forward: <font color="Red">Tayshaun Prince</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/tayshaun_prince.jpg[/imgl] It beats me how this guy plays basketball with such a slender physique. However he looks, he plays tremendous defense, and can put up a lot points on offense. He will be locked on Jefferson or Carter, not allowing them to either driver or shoot. Power Forward: <font color="Red">Rasheed Wallace</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/rasheed_wallace.jpg[/imgl] He might not be in his prime, but he still plays tremendous defense, gets rebounds, and scores enough points to be considered a viable lowpost threat. He makes up the core of the Piston blockers. Center: <font color="Red">Ben Wallace</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ben_wallace.jpg[/imgl] <font color="DimGray"><font color="Black">He defends, rebounds, and that is just about it. Those two things however are very valuable for a team's success. Without Wallace detroit would not be as tough, and thier guards would have to focus a lot of thier attention to rebounding. The detroit guards therefore have one less thing to worry about on defense and offense.</font> <font color="Red">Pistons: Key To The Game</font></font><font color="Sienna"> </font> 1) Plain and Simple: Do what they have been doing all season long. [/div]Last preview that I made, the Nets were winner of 22 games. Four games later, they are still at 22. Things are not looking good for the Nets. Kidd's knee is starting to ache, Carter has a bruised back, Collins' knee is still not recoved, and McInnis is out. As much as the Nets do not want to make excuses, I think that thier physical condition disables them from even competing in this one. Projected Starters Point Guard: <font color="Blue">Jason Kidd</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_kidd.jpg[/imgl] The knee that he had surgey on two summers ago is starting to ache again. He will probably play in this game, but to what effect? He certainly will not the ability to sufficently play with Billups. Kidd needs rest and will probably get it often. Frank is smart enough to know that the Nets cannot lose any further players to injury. Shooting Guard: <font color="Blue">Vince Carter</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/vince_carter.jpg[/imgl] Lets hope that he returns for this game. The Nets need him because the Nets need a scorer. During Carter's absense, the Nets have not been able to win one game. Small Forward: <font color="Blue">Richard Jefferson</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/richard_jefferson.jpg[/imgl] One of the Net's only healty players, Jefferson will need to step it up big time in this one. Carter is still bruised up, Kidd is not 100%, so Jefferson needs to fill in the gaps that might be left due to the limited effectiveness of the other Net's starters. Power Forward: <font color="Blue">Jason Collins</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_collins.jpg[/imgl] Collins is still bothered by his knee. Facing a very tough inside team in detroit in not going to help his condition. He will be put on Rasheed Wallace, when every Uncle Cliff is on the bench. Center: <font color="Blue">Nenad Krstic</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/nenad_krstic.jpg[/imgl] Krsic will face one the of the best defenders in the league. If this game is good for anything, it is Krstic's well being and experience. From playing a very tough Detroit team Krstic will learn how to play against the best, and perhaps will learn about the best that he can bring. <font color="Blue">Nets Keys To The Game</font> <font color="Black">1) Defend the interior and exteriour. If the Nets can take away, from Detroit, thier ability to score, then Nets simply have to out play them on offense. 2) Do not lose confidence in the fact that Detroit is the most powerfui team in the leage. The Nets need to learn how to focus themselves, 3) Collins must boxout. This is what he does best. The more Collins boxes out, the more tough the rebounding job become for the other team.</font></div>
Nice work on the preview M,btw, the reason it says last edited by Henacy at the end, is because you had Jarron Collin's picture instead of Ben Wallace's pic, so I fix that. I dont want you to think I edited any of your points or Ideas. Anyway, I dont like this matchup for us right now, when you play a team like Detriot you want to be at you best so you can get a true assesment of where you are at. Right now, we just cant get that, If your playing at a high level against Detriot and get handed the business, then it will sink in whats wrong. But if we lose playing the level of ball we have played recently, guys will just take it as a slump because of the type of recent losses to lesser teams then the Pistons. I think with a matchup against a team like Detriot you always want to learn something about yourself as a team whether you win or lose, right now Iam not for sure they will come out of this matchup with anything new or learned that they dont already know. Right now, this team is getting accustom to making excuse Carter isnt healthy or we dont have bigs etc...and those type of excuses sometimes let you off the hook for the bigger reason a lack of effort...which imo was the biggest reason for the dissappointing Western trip. We'll see what the effort looks like against Detriot though ....
Jefferson and Jackson are questionable too...they were home sick and didn't show up the practice. This is one of those games that I rather not watch, even if I get the oppurtunity. Detroit is a powerhouse this season, and as good as the we are (and we're not as good as them anyway), we aren't even at our best tonight. BTW, sorry for not posting the preview for the Sonics game...My internet has been on and off all week, I couldn't get it in. Again, I'm very sorry.
Great win and just a big confidence builder. They played well but missed too many layups. It was just great and I can't believe they beat the Pistons. Kidd the MP3 of the game. lol I think 23 pts 12 rebs and 7 assists. He was clutch at the end of the game with the 3 pointers.
thank you! finally someone beat the pistons! at least the nets did good across the river, the knicks suck they let me down
I should make more previews like this (where I give the Nets no chance in the world of winning). Purely a team effort by the Nets. They played thier hearts out.
Carter was struggling, but thankfully Jefferson and Kidd stepped it up. Is it me, or does Krstic do well against the best big men in the league? He was great tonight, and kinda reminded me of how aggressive he was against the Heat in the playoffs. It was pretty sloppy, but they played extremely hard and won. The Nets need to maintain this attitude, and need to start forming some consistency going in to all-star break. This still doesn't change my opinion that trades need to be made for a defensive big or a consistent scorer.
^^^^ He didnt even make the dunk and it was still crazy! The thing that kills me is "What it he woulda made that?!?"
