<div align="center">@ <font color=""Navy"">New Jersey Nets(5-6) </font>@ <font color=""Orange"">Phoenix Suns</font>(5-6) Time: Friday, November 24, 7:30 EST TV: ESPN,YES Away/Home</div> [div=50%] The Suns, like the Nets, are off to a dissapointing start to the season. Amare Stoudemire hasnt' been close to his form 2 of 2004-2005, pre-microfacture surgery, which has been a problem for the Suns: should the keep Stoudemire in the starting lineup? Or would that disrupt the Suns perfect chemistry that helped them to a great season last year? The Suns, who have won 2 straight, are looking to find the answer to those questions while paving their way back to the top of the league. Projected Starters PG: <font color=""Orange"">Steve Nash</font> SG: <font color="orange">Raja Bell</font> SF: <font color="orange">Shawn Marion</font> PF: <font color="orange">Boris Diaw</font> C: <font color="orange">Amare Stoudemire</font> <font color="orange">Suns Keys to the Game</font> 1. Get the big men the ball: that means getting Stoudemire, Diaw, Kurt Thomas, and the other big guys involved in the offense. Points in the paint will be key for the Suns tonight. 2. Rebound- There aren't many teams who are as bad at rebounding as the Suns, but the Nets are one of them. The Suns need to take advantage of this and score some 2nd chance points. [/div] The Nets have to be dissapointed right now at the way things are going. The team was expected to start the season strong, unlike last year, but 11 games in and the Nets are already under .500. Obviously, with injuries to key reserves Eddie House, Josh Boone, and to a lesser extent Marcus Williams and Cliff Robinson, along with of course Richard Jefferson, some of the blame needs to go to injuries. But the team's weak defense is probably its major problem right now. With one of the league's highest scoring offense to take on tonight, the Nets have to somehow fix their defense, or it's blow-out time. Projected Starters Point Guard: <font color=""Navy"">Jason Kidd</font> Stats: 13.9 PPG 8.1 RPG 9.0 APG Jason Kidd is the brightest spot on the Nets so far. He is averaging incredible numbers and is proving all the critics who labeled him as an aging player who's "lost a step or two". Kidd's leadership and great play has been key to the Nets. Other than his job on the court, Kidd has also been teaching Marcus Williams and paving his way to stardom, and so far, it seems he's doing a good job at that, too. Kidd faces a long time rival and defending 2 time MVP Steve Nash tonight, so expect him to come very determined tonight. He'll have to contain Nash and cut off his passing as much as possible. Shooting Guard: <font color="navy">Vince Carter</font> Stats: 28.2 PPG 5.3 RPG 3.5 APG Carter had to do his usual role of 1st option and offense and also fill in RJ's role as 2nd option for a couple of games. That's never easy, but with RJ back, Carter's load has lessened. VC has been, well, VC so far this season, scoring in the mid-20's to mid-30's. He faces a tough defender tonight in Raja Bell, but he'll probably still be able to do his stuff on offense. Small Forward: <font color="navy">Richard Jefferson</font> Stats: 15.2 PPG 4.3 RPG 2.3 APG RJ's season has been halted a little by injuries, but now that he's back on track, look for him to do his usual thing: score consistently and efficiently, grab boards and play defense. His main job tonight will be to stop Shawn Marion. Power Foward: <font color="navy">Jason Collins</font> Stats: 2.7 PPG 4.8 RPG 1.5 APG Jason Collins has basically been the same player for the last 6 years, which is slightly dissapointing. He just seems the same player in tapes from the 2001-2002 playoffs, the 2003-2004 preseason and the 4th game of this season. But still, he's known as a glue guy, a guy who you would want on your team despite his poor stats. He'll do the dirty work, box out, defend and set good picks. But will that help tonight against Amare Stoudamire? Center: <font color="navy">Nenad Krstic</font> Stats: 16.5 PPG 7.4 RPG 1.4 APG Nenad, unlike Twin, is constantly improving. His stats this season are very solid, and his play is too. He's been a big part of the Nets this season and an important player in the system. He's still not a 15/10 kind of guy, and he might never be, but 16.5/7.4 is closer to those stats than ever. <font color="navy">Nets Keys to the Game</font> 1. Defend- I know, this is a key to every game, but tonight it's more important than ever. With a team who averages 106.5 points per game hosts you, you know that to win you either need to score 115 points or somehow keep them below the 100 point mark. 2. Keep the lead- The Nets have been losing a lot of games over bad, careless play in the 4th quarter. If and when the Nets are able to get a lead, the need to hold on to it, especially in the final 5 minutes of the game. <div align="center"><u>Fun Facts</u> -Steve Nash was Jason Kidd's backup in the first 2 seasons of his career, back when Kidd was in Phoenix. -The Nets have lost 12 games in a row to the Suns in Phoenix. <u>Prediction</u> Suns +8</div>
Tonight's Questions: Nets @ Suns 1. Who will pass more assists: Jason Kidd or Steve Nash? 2. Who will lead at halftime? 3. Will Vince Carter score 30 points? 4. Will Nenad Krstic have a 15/10 night? 5. Will Jason Collins block 2 shots? 6. Who will get more minutes: Boki Nachbar or Antoine Wright? 7. Who will lead the Nets in turnovers?
1. Who will pass more assists: Jason Kidd or Steve Nash? Kidd 2. Who will lead at halftime? Suns 3. Will Vince Carter score 30 points? No 4. Will Nenad Krstic have a 15/10 night? No 5. Will Jason Collins block 2 shots? No 6. Who will get more minutes: Boki Nachbar or Antoine Wright? Wright 7. Who will lead the Nets in turnovers? Wright
1. Who will pass more assists: Jason Kidd or Steve Nash? Jason Kidd 2. Who will lead at halftime? Suns 3. Will Vince Carter score 30 points? Yes 4. Will Nenad Krstic have a 15/10 night? No 5. Will Jason Collins block 2 shots? No 6. Who will get more minutes: Boki Nachbar or Antoine Wright? Nachbar 7. Who will lead the Nets in turnovers? Vince Carter
Nets to Face Another Struggling Team <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Seasons are not lost in November. But for all the lofty expectations the Nets placed on themselves, their poor start is maddening for them. Stopping the slide will not be easy for the Nets, who finish their four-game trip to the West with a game against the Phoenix Suns (5-6) tonight and one against the Los Angeles Lakers (8-3) on Sunday.</div> Source
Anybody remember that game where the Nets killed the Suns by 38? It was last season. Kidd completely shutdown Nash, it was a great game. Let's hope for that kind of magic today.
I hate watching this game on ESPN. The commentators are so biased towards Steve. He can't even dribble without them mentioning his name. "Nash with the pass". "Nash with the dribble". Oh and the Nets need to get it together.
Wow, what the hell is happening? We are getting killed and mureder. They make everyshot, while we miss every shot.
No body saw that behind head shot by Kidd!? Wow, he made it and no one even mentions in. Bell shoots a 3 and their screaming. That pissed me off.
We're playing like crap, which has lately been a trend. I'm about to suit up and head to Phoenix. I'll shutdown Nash. Is it possible that after this loss, the Nets might have a roster shakeup? Possibly trying to get KG.
<div class="quote_poster">Kidd Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We're playing like crap, which has lately been a trend. I'm about to suit up and head to Phoenix. I'll shutdown Nash. Is it possible that after this loss, the Nets might have a roster shakeup? Possibly trying to get KG.</div> Maybe Kidd and RJ for KG? NETS 5: Williams Carter ??? KG Krstic
<div class="quote_poster">kobe23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe Kidd and RJ for KG? NETS 5: Williams Carter ??? KG Krstic</div> How about we ship Carter's jump shooting ass? I'm sorry but our best scorer is gone. Where is he when we need him? And why would the Nets trade Kidd? Williams is good but you can't compare him to Kidd even at 33. Kidd isn't the problem. If they trade him, then they lose leadership among many things.
Great play by Kidd and Carter on the fastbreak. Nice fake bt Kidd, and Carter with the finish. The Nets are showsing some signs of life in the last few minutes of the half.
