<div align="center"><font color="blue">New Jersey Nets (34-28)</font> vs <font color="red">Portland Trail Blazers (20-43)</font> Place: Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey Date & Time: Wednesday, March 15 2006, 7:30 PM EST TV: YES NETWORK, FSN Radio: WFAN 660 AM AwayHome</div> [div=50%] <font size=""2"">9 games after the All-Star break, things were looking dark for the Nets. Sure, they had won 4 games in that stretch, which isn't THAT bad. But their wins had come against sub-.500 teams, and they had come barely (only +4 against Milwaukee and New York, +3 against a depleted and injured Orlando, and +5 in OVERTIME against Toronto) come at all. Their loses came against non-elite teams (Indiana, Minnesota, Sacramento) and struggling teams (Chicago, Atlanta). Suddenly, the lead over the Sixers for the division was only half a game. The team fell back to reality and realized that they needed to improve. Since then, the team has won 2 straight games, against NO/Oklahoma City and Houston, ending its 4 game road trip at 2-2.</font> Projected Starters Point Guard: <font color="blue">Jason Kidd</font> Stats: PPG 14.5 RPG 7.4 APG 8.5 Kidd has been on a roll since the All-Star break, with 6 double-doubles and 3 triple-doubles. He has been extremely close to getting a triple double in nearly every one of the 11 games. Kidd is proving that he's still a great all-around player: he's leading all guards in rebounds, is 2nd among guards in double-doubles, 15th in the league, is 5th in assists per game and 4th in assists, and leads all players in triple-doubles. He has been motivating and leading the Nets in every game and will probably continue to do so. Shooting Guard: <font color="blue">Vince Carter</font> Stats: PPG 24.0 RPG 5.9 APG 4.3 Vince remains the team's first option on offense by far. His ability to score has saved the Nets many games this season. He will probably be a major factor against Portland, since nobody on the Blazers can guard him. Small Forward: <font color="blue">Richard Jefferson</font> Stats: PPG 19.3 RPG 7.1 APG 4.1 RJ was snubbed for the All-Star game, but it hasn't really affected his game. He continues to score a lot consistently without taking too many shots and has been a reliable 2nd option on offense. Power Forward: <font color="blue">Jason Collins</font> Stats: PPG 3.4 RPG 4.5 APG 0.9 Everybody has been waiting to Collins to have a breakout, 10/10/2.5 year in his 5 years with New Jersey. But Twin just isn't that type of player, as it turns out. He'll give you a solid 5/5-8/1 a night, but he isn't the type of player who intimidates other teams. But even though he isn't spectacular, he's the Nets defensive anchor and they need him every game. Center: <font color="blue">Nenad Krstic</font> Stats: PPG 12.9 RPG 5.8 APG 1 Nenad has been somewhat of a mystery to me this season. One night, he scores 29 points and grabs 13 boards, and another he barely gives you 3/3 with 6 fouls in 15 minutes of play. His inconsistency hasn't necessarily cost the Nets a lot of games, but it's the weakest part of his game. If Nenad can get consistent, and I don't mean getting 23/12 a night, maybe just 10/8.5, then the Nets become the much better. <font color="blue">Nets Keys to the Game</font> 1)Shut down Zach Randolph. Though his game has been steadlily declining over the past 3 season, Randolph is still the Blazers first and nearly only option on offense. If the Nets can manage to keep him to a quiet 10/5 night, winning the game shouldn't be a problem... 2) but on the other hand, don't slack off on the other guys. The last time the Nets met the Blazers they contained Randolph but let Juan Dixon have a monster night. Some of Portland's players ( like Dixon, Steve Blake, and Sebastian Telfair) aren't usually huge on offense, but when they heat up, they're tough to stop. Enjoy the Game!!![/div] <font size=""2"">Portland came into the 05-06 season with a new strategy: clean up (ex. trading problomatic players, like Damon Stoudamire, Ruben Patterson, and Derek Anderson, who are all gone), go young (ex. drafting high schooler Martell Webster, giving Travis Outlaw an oppurtunity in the Summer League) and try to make the playoffs under new star coach Nate McMillian. So far, none of that has gone right: the "problomatic" players are solid role players for their new teams, Webster and Outlaw have yet to do something, and the team is in the cellar of the league with a terrible record. The question now is, try to make the final push for a playoff spot that is so far away, or give up and hope for a good spot in the draft lottery?</font> Projected Starters Point Guard: <font color="red">Steve Blake</font> Stats: PPG 8.5 RPG 2.20 APG 4.5 Blake was signed in the offseason along with friend Juan Dixon after both of the players' contracts ended in Washington. He started the season as a backup for young guard Sebastian Telfair, but has earned the starting point guard spot and has been playing decent ball since, with one of the best assist/turnover ratio in the league. Shooting Guard: <font color="red">???</font> Stats: --------------- Coach McMillian has gone with different players at the starting shooting guard spot all season long: Martell Webster, Juan Dixon, Jarrett Jack, and Darius Miles have all gotten minutes here. We'll have to wait and see who Coach chooses this time. Small Forward: <font color="red">Darius Miles</font> Stats: PPG 15.8 RPG 4.90 APG 2.0 Miles's minutes are at a career high 34 per game, but his stats fail to reflect the increase in minutes he's received. He's averaged only 3 more points, less steals and blocks and barely more rebounds per game than last season. Also, his percentages have dropped by a pretty large amount. But Miles is still only 25 and has at least 9 more years in him to play. He's Portland's 2nd option on offense and can get hot fast on offense. Power Forward: <font color="red">Zach Randolph</font> Stats: PPG 18.7 RPG 8.50 APG 1.9 Randolph is still a top 15 power forward in the league, even though he's not playing nearly as well as he did two years ago. He's still very dangerous and was the key player in Porltand's surprising win over Phoenix a couple of days ago. Center: <font color="red">Brian Skinner</font> Stats: PPG 3.1 RPG 3.30 APG 0.5 Skinner came to Porland not too long ago in a trade that sent Ruben Patterson to Denver. He can be a solid 7/7 guy down low for Porland and is a good role player.
Excellent preview, kobimel! I have confidence that the Net'll win this one. I can not even imagine a scenario where they won't win. They seem to be getting back into thier grove after being in a slump for a few games.
Can't wait to see my boy Sebastian. Great shot by Vince from halfcourt. That was a straight up jumper.
Very good preview. The Nets really played good defense in the 4 quarter and they really closed out the game. They held Portland to only 5 pts in the quarter. Good job and let's just keep this run going. Here are the stats Kidd 6 rebs 7 asts Jefferson 22 pts 9 rebs Carter 26 pts 5 rebs Krstic 20 pts 5 rebs Murray 7 pts Bench didn't provide much on offense this game.
Thanks for the positive feedback, everyone. Not a pretty game, from what I've seen, and we didn't contain Randolph too well, but at least we played good defense in the 4th.
