<font size=""5""><div align="center">Indiana Pacers at New Jersey Nets (Playoff Game #1)</div></font> When: Sunday, April 23, 2006 1:00 eastern time TV: TNT <div align="left"> PG: Jason Kidd SG: Vince Carter SF: Richard Jefferson PF: Jason Collins C: Nenad Kristic</div> <div align="right"> PG: Anthony Johnson SG: Stephen Jackson SF: Peja Stojakovic PF: Jermaine O'Neal C: Jeff Foster</div> <div align="center">Key Matchup: Vince Carter vs. Stephen Jackson Vince Carter is going to attack the basket to test if Stephen Jackson could slow him down and if he can't expect to see Carter have alot of free throw attempts. Stephen Jackson is an exellent 3 point shooter along with Peja Stojakovic. The Nets will have a tough time slowing them down. Nets Keys to the Game: 1. Nenad Kristic must have a good game because Jermaine O'Neal is a great post defender and most likely he will be the one guarding Kristic. If Nenad does'nt produce the chances of the Nets winning will be slim. 2. Jefferson and Carter have to play defense so Stephen Jackson and Peja Stojakovic don't have any open looks from beyond 3 point land where they are dangerous when left open. Prediction: Nets win by 3-6</div> Sorry for the horrible preview it's my first time. Here's a little sorry gift:
Excellent work for your first preview. Good job! I'll be rooting for the Pacers in this matchup, but I could see this going either way. The Pacers can be extremely dangerous if Jermaine O'Neal's game is on. If he can manhandle Krstic and Collins, he'll require double-coverage, which will mean lots of open threes for Jackson and Stojakovic. Vince Carter and Jefferson should attack the rim constantly to try and draw O'Neal into foul trouble. Dominating the boards against Indiana will be hard, as neither Collins and Krstic are great rebounders, while Foster and O'Neal can each get 10 a night. I'm taking the Pacers in 7. They might have problems and all, but O'Neal has a fire inside him that should at least carry the team to the second round.
Thanks, this preview sucks but atleast we have one. But back to the game I really hope the Nets win this, it will be very tough.
Well, the Pacers were able to win two out of three in the regular season, and two of those games they didn't have Jeramine in uniform. That said, I have to give the Pacers the edge. I think the key is Indiana's supporting cast, there's no doubt in my mind Jermaine will get his against NJ's weak frontcourt - so if Peja/Jax are knocking down their shots, and guys like Sarunas and Freddie can come in and give the team 9 or 10 points off the bench, I think Indiana won't have any trouble.
I think this game is going to be the best of the playoffs so far, just a dogfight. that pacers starting 5 is looking pretty good IF they've come to play.
don't shoot the nets out of it VC Vince is 5-for-19, Krstic and RJ both 4-7. Translation: PASS THE BALL VINCE AND STOP BEING ALLEN IVERSON
Solid performance by both teams so far...81-81. O'Neal hasn't been a factor, but Jackson and Jones are killing us. Carter seems to be shot happy today...
Lot of bs calls at the end, but at the beggining of the game vince wasnt gettin many calls, thats the only reason the pacers stayed in. O well we will win the next.
I can't believe we lost.....just saw the highlights. Carter I heard shot to many jumpshots instead of driving in. As for the last call on Krstic...the refs should of let them play. It's not like that small jersey swipe affected his shot. The Nets need to rethink how they should play and must have a win the next game. Sad loss....
I do not like how the Nets were stagnent for most of the game. They were play isolation b-ball too much, and the only thing that they did right was drive to the hoop. Defensivly they did not play so hard either.
Looks like the key matchup, Stephen Jackson vs Vince Carter was the key to the game. Jackson, his long arms, and his 2 inch advantage over Vince Carter made him take 33 shots to score 31 while Jackson himself shot over 50% and lead the Pacers in scoring. Great game by Jackson.
The rule for next game should be that Carter can't take anything outside of 20 feet unless it's a wide open catch and shoot jumper, and he can't take any three's behind the line. I know he can make these shots easily, but in the playoffs, you need consistency, those shots do not spell consistency at all. Krstic played very well, so far in his NBA playoff career he's shown to be a guy that steps his game up. He showed an array of moves down low, and did very well. He kept them in the game with his consistent scoring.
Krstic barely grazed AJ's jersey, and they called the foul? smh.. What's boggled me is that Frank solved the stagnant scoring by running the princeton offense in the third quarter. But in the 4th, it was all iso's with Carter, leaving Jefferson and Krstic out of the offense. Hopefully coach can address this problem in game 2.
J-Kidd and Lawerence Frank need to talk with VC and tell him to attack the basket and get fouled so he could get to the free throw line.
What a rough way to lose the game. I think the Nets played right into the Pacers game plan by not attacking the rim. I expect Richard Jefferson to go off in Game 2.
