RJ's Back-to-Back Helps Ankle

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">For the first time this season, Richard Jefferson has scored more than 20 points in consecutive games...on a back-to-back no less. In spite of lingering and often debilitating ankle pain, Jefferson's innate optimism has him thinking maybe he can play through it, saying that he felt better as the game progressed Saturday night.</div>
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It's good to see RJ step up when VC has been having bad games. I think RJ is closer to where he used to be around 95 percent.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Carter Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It's good to see RJ step up when VC has been having bad games. I think RJ is closer to where he used to be around 95 percent.</div>


Do you pull these percentages outta your ass?

 

I'm just saying where I think he is around.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Carter Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm just saying where I think he is around.</div>


He might be around 96 percent.

 

I like Jefferson. He is good at driving to the lane and his mid-range game is alright, too.

His 20+ points games are valuable to his team. Krstic is out and their frontcourt is very weak at the moment, so New Jersey's backcourt has to give their best. And RJ is more than a role player...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Flow Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I like Jefferson. He is good at driving to the lane and his mid-range game is alright, too.

His 20+ points games are valuable to his team. Krstic is out and their frontcourt is very weak at the moment, so New Jersey's backcourt has to give their best. And RJ is more than a role player...</div>

No one said that he was.

 

Return Of Old Rj Has Nets Back In Form

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Two games do not a season make.

But if the last two games by Richard Jefferson are indicative of what lies ahead, then the Nets just might turn what so far has been a mess into a success.

Friday in Miami, the Nets' Big Three - Jefferson, Jason Kidd and Vince Carter - were big, especially in a game-turning 21-0 third quarter run. Jefferson was in the thick of that run.

Saturday, in a 100-92 disposal of Minnesota, Mikki Moore was the obvious darling, shooting 9-of-9 and scoring 20 points.

But Jefferson scored 23. And looked darn good doing it. He ran, jumped, cut, dunked. He was Richard Jefferson again as the Nets aligned themselves to try for their first three-game winning streak this season. That chance will come at home Friday against Chicago after five days of rest for Jefferson and his chronically painful right ankle.

"The last two games, I haven't played amazing or done anything out of the ordinary," said Jefferson, who totaled 81 minutes and shot 17-of-30 (.567) while averaging 22.5 points (the first time all season he scored 20 points in consecutive games) and 5.5 rebounds in the two victories. "No, I played the way people are used to seeing me play, the way I've played the last four, five seasons."

Precisely. And that could impact the season far more than any reasonable trade the Nets can muster. It would change the entire outlook.

"Oh, yeah; 100 percent," Jefferson agreed. "And that was the frustration for me early on. And for a lot of the team. We know we have the talent, but we had to deal with the injury to [Nenad] Krstic, losing Cliff Robinson [he's back Friday] . . . You knew that even with those losses, if I came out and played the way I normally played - nothing great - then I think we'd be a different team."

No question. The Nets are 13-18, and as of yesterday laughably were still tied for the Atlantic Division lead. A healthy Jefferson changes the landscape. And note, that's simply healthy; not outstanding. That's why with Jefferson running and cutting better, the Nets have a two-game winning streak.

Coach Lawrence Frank threw up a caution sign. He wants to see how Jefferson responds.

"Obviously, he is playing through a great deal of pain. It feels like there's gravel in his ankle," Frank said. "I saw some really positive things; he had good lift and good action."

Like Jefferson showed folks the last few years.

"Hopefully with a couple of days' break, to rest and relax, it will maintain," said Jefferson who showed none of the tentativeness that plagued him earlier - remember the Houston game?

"That's the thing, exploding up on your jumper, driving the lane and being able to finish," Jefferson said. "It's confidence. . . . Say the last 5-6 games, you look at the way my body has been, it's been a little inconsistent. But for the most part I'm getting better the last few weeks."

Keep it up, and the Nets will be undeniably better the next few months.</div>


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