The score of the game was much closer than it would indicate. Frankly, I thought we quit midway through fourth quarter, which allowed them to make their run. I think our foul trouble, and inability to convert from the free throw line is what cost us this game. The Nets have definetly improved, but they have a long way to go to catch up to the elite in the East. We gave them a great game, but they're on a whole different level than us, and we either need to make a move (which doesn't seem likely), or work with what we got and try to improve (which we have over the past several weeks IMO). Or we could blow the team up, but I don't really see it happening, since the team is starting to show signs of turning it around.
The Celtics' big 3 has all the ingredients you need to win games. You have the great outside shooter, the slasher and a guy who can score in the post and from outside. The Nets' big 3 is poorly balanced. The Nets really need both outside shooters and a big guy who can bang inside and get easy buckets. Their weakness was exposed by the Celtics tonight - they just played zone and packed it into the lane since they didn't fear they'd be giving up easy outside points. Give the Nets a consistent shooter from 3pt range, and the Celtics would have to expand their zone out to the 3pt line. As a Bulls fan, I've been seeing the Bulls play 3 on 5 on offense quite a bit, especially this season. For all the things a Chris Duhon does (the things Kidd does, just not as well), it's still 3 on 5 on offense. Teams don't care to guard him or Ben Wallace, leaving the Bulls better players facing a lot of double teams. Tough to play that way all game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bling890 @ Jan 11 2008, 10:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GM3 @ Jan 11 2008, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>First off, Wright is not useless BUT you never play him with Collins because its basically playing 3 on 5 on offense. Wright and Collins played good D and kept it close but they couldn't make shots.</div> Can you please explain to me how in the hell Collins played good defense? This guy is so overrated on defense, and even if he had been solid at one time, he is nothing like the "anchor" Lawrence Frank describes him as. And for some reason it seems like Lawrence loves to find groups of the most offensively inept players in the LEAGUE and put them on the court all at once against the best DEFENSIVE team in the league. What kind of logic is that? I don't care if Boone plays the whole game, under NO circumstances do you play a center who sets "good picks" but CAN'T ROLL with any effectiveness in Jason Collins with 2 offensively TERRIBLE guards and a SF who can;t make his own shot off the dribble and struggles to set up others </div> I agree with bling, Collins' defense tonight was awful. He had one good defensive play, where him and Wright trapped someone (Allen?) and got the jumpball, which Wright lost. The rest of the time, he did nothing of significance and couldn't even hold his own against Big Baby.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JAMES.SLIMM @ Jan 12 2008, 03:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>we don't need a superstar player in here, we just need a shooter</div> The whole Bucks roster is filled with em. We just have to give em somethin they want, and pick out the right shooter.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182 @ Jan 12 2008, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bling890 @ Jan 11 2008, 10:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GM3 @ Jan 11 2008, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>First off, Wright is not useless BUT you never play him with Collins because its basically playing 3 on 5 on offense. Wright and Collins played good D and kept it close but they couldn't make shots.</div> Can you please explain to me how in the hell Collins played good defense? This guy is so overrated on defense, and even if he had been solid at one time, he is nothing like the "anchor" Lawrence Frank describes him as. And for some reason it seems like Lawrence loves to find groups of the most offensively inept players in the LEAGUE and put them on the court all at once against the best DEFENSIVE team in the league. What kind of logic is that? I don't care if Boone plays the whole game, under NO circumstances do you play a center who sets "good picks" but CAN'T ROLL with any effectiveness in Jason Collins with 2 offensively TERRIBLE guards and a SF who can;t make his own shot off the dribble and struggles to set up others </div> I agree with bling, Collins' defense tonight was awful. He had one good defensive play, where him and Wright trapped someone (Allen?) and got the jumpball, which Wright lost. The rest of the time, he did nothing of significance and couldn't even hold his own against Big Baby. </div> I think Collins has really slipped defensively...it seems like when ever he gets in the post he chooses not to get physical and just flops hoping for a charge. Honestly letting Big Baby victimize him in the paint was just horrible...how is he still in this rotation? We should at least let Magliore play for a week to bring his value up if Frank hates him so much. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182 @ Jan 12 2008, 03:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JAMES.SLIMM @ Jan 12 2008, 03:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>we don't need a superstar player in here, we just need a shooter</div> The whole Bucks roster is filled with em. We just have to give em somethin they want, and pick out the right shooter. </div> I still with Jamal Magliore and a first rounder we can get a sixth man shooter in return
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JAMES.SLIMM @ Jan 12 2008, 03:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>we don't need a superstar player in here, we just need a shooter</div> The Nets just got one: Kiki Vandeweghe!
If we make some free throws, we win the game. Yes, we could use a shooter, but they are hard to get. One thing we can work on for sure is free throws. They should all be shooting 200 a day. It's ridiculous. You can't be giving up 15 points at the foul line.
