<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Tuesday, February 14, 2006Pistons vs. Nets Preview: Game 51The Pistons will take on Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, and the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday, February 14th at 7:30 p.m. at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons (41-9) have split both games with the Nets (27-22) in New Jersey so far this year. Back on November 30th they won by a 93-83 margin. Pistons guard Rip Hamilton led all scorers with 30 points and six rebounds while Vince Carter led the Nets with 27 points. Then on January 31st, the Pistons lost 84-91 despite a 30 point scoring effort by Chauncey Billups. Jason Kidd led the Nets with 23 points and 12 rebounds. The Nets are off to a good start this season, standing atop the Atlantic Division and raking up a ten game winning streak during December and January. However, the Nets have struggled a bit on the road as of late, losing nine of their last 10 games on the road. The Nets must recover if they want to stay on track for the playoffs. After finishing 42-40 last season, the Nets, who finished last year third in the Atlantic Division, squeaked into the playoffs before being promptly swept by the Miami Heat in the first round. While it did mark their fourth straight playoff appearance, the Nets were on shaky ground with talks of a franchise move and new general management. However, the Nets are staying put and their moves over the past few years are sure to cement New Jersey amongst the best in the NBA. After a season plagued by injuries, a rejuvenated Nets team is back and are quite the offensive threat. Carter, along with Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, was out of the lineup for 49 games last year due to a ruptured ligament in his left wrist, will be one of the toughest trios in the league. With Jason Kidd running the point and Jefferson and Carter on the wings, look for the New Jersey Nets to get up and down the floor. Kidd, who is finally playing 100% healthy, is arguably the best point guard in the NBA at delivering the ball and has two of the best finishers in the league in Carter and Jefferson. Kidd is averaging 14.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game, easily a triple-double threat each night he comes out while Jefferson is putting in 18.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per night. Add breakout center Nenad Krstic to the mix with his 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds and you have quite an offensive weapon. Krstic is a tough guy to match-up with considering his ability to step out on the perimeter and hit shots in the 15-to-17 foot range. It has been Vince Carter, though, who has been leading the team this season with 24.0 points (seventh in the East), 5.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. The Nets are coming off a 94-79 win against Milwaukee on Sunday night. Vince Carter led the Nets with 24 points. The Pistons, on the other hand, are coming off a 98-100 loss to the Miami Heat as Billups led Detroit with 29 points. Tuesday?s game will be the last game before the All-Star game for Detroit. It will be the first of three straight road games for New Jersey. The Nets have won four of their last five games, but have lost their last six straight games on the road. The Pistons are 22-2 at home and have won four of the last six games in Detroit against the Nets. Injury Report: Nets guard Jeff McInnis is out with torn cartilage in his left knee. The first 5,000 female fans to the Pistons vs. Nets game on Tuesday will receive pink Pistons jerseys courtesy of Key Bank and The Detroit News. In addition, the first 2,500 female fans in attendance will receive a rose courtesy of Viviano?s.</div>well i hope the pistons will give them some payback tonight :brucelee: for that 11-game winning streak snapper a week or two ago...PN13
