LA Lakers (34-32) at New Jersey (35-28) As we enter this crucial stretch where we play three games in four days back east one thing is crystal clear. Anything less than a maximum effort by the entire team will not get the job done. While it?s true we have some injuries, at this point of the season all teams are banged up and tired to some degree. We must once again have a stronger will to win than our opponents. New Jersey has a potentially potent transition attack with three of the best open court players in the NBA (Kidd, Carter, Jefferson). The Nets aren?t running as much of the Princeton offense as they used to. Their center, Nenad Krstic, is developing into a tough match up in the low post. One of the unique aspects of this Nets team is that in addition to getting low post production from the center position they can and will post all of their small players. This forces the defense to use some unusual defensive rotations. The Nets will also use some unconventional small lineups that test the defense. Jason Kidd Kidd is still a triple-double threat every time he steps on the floor. His ability to push the ball in transition is still the first aspect of the Nets that we will have to deal with. Keeping our turnovers down and making sure we are taking good shots with proper floor balance will help slow him/them down. One of the ways that New Jersey creates some effective offense in the half court is a simple play called ?1 Down?. In this play Jason Kidd will just dribble up the side of the floor and back his man down into a low post position. From this area he will try to bait the defense into an early double team then pick them apart by hitting the open man. Vince Carter Carter is one of the most explosive players in the league. He is a prolific scorer who can hit from three, drive aggressively and post up. They will run cross screens to post him up. They will also run a variety of middle pick and rolls to help him create some space to operate from the top. One of the keys to playing Carter is to be physical with him. Usually when Carter has a big scoring night it begins with him getting hot from 3 point range. We must not give him open looks. Richard Jefferson It would be tough to find someone in the league who fills the lane on the fast break better than Richard Jefferson. He is able to create a lot of offense for the Nets in transition. One of the ways they will get him involved in the half court is a play called ?Rub 3?. In this play Jefferson starts on the right side of the floor along the baseline. The 4 or 5 is on the right block and 1 brings the ball up the left side. The other two players are lifted on the right side. Jefferson rub cuts off the big into the left block. After the post feed usually the 1 will cut through the lane as the rest of the players space around the perimeter. Prediction: Hoping LO continues his strong play, I'll take my Lakers <font color=""Red"">97-86</font>
OK haven't posted in awhile... New Jersey is a very dangerous team because of their ability in the open court...so one of our keys is to slow up the game....when New Jersey slows down their offense they mostly will resort to drives by their star players...those of which we can contain if we help and shut down the paint....we have to step out on Krstic..cause once his confidence is up he will shoot lights out....offensively..we should pound it into the post...whether that be postups with LO or Kwame or cutting with Smush and Kobe...we gotta get into the paint.. I think we'll win by 8
