Game 79 Live-Bullets

So I am here, watching the game, so I might as well put my thoughts out there.  Think live-blog, except more random and less organized.

• We just saw Lawrence Frank get interviewed, he said some guys were going to have their minutes increase.  I am hoping it’s Yi and not Boone, but knowing Frank, it’s probably not Yi.
• Got the Nets’ starting line-up correct.  The Pistons’ lineup is correct too.  I get nervous about those sometimes.
• Rip Hamilton’s beard looks so awesome.
• We are underway.  The Nets win the tip, Harris misses the first shot of the game, and Rip drills a jumper, we can’t let him get hot.
• I hate to point out how correct I am (I’m serious) but the Pistons go right to ‘Sheed on the post.  Ryan Anderson can’t cover him there.  Yi?
• The Pistons are hot early 3-3.
• Brook with a nice turn around jumper.  He hits it and gets fouled…he makes the foul shot.
• Lopez, 20 footers aren’t your thing.  Please move in!
• The Nets show zone.  I like that call, hides the Anderson – ‘Sheed mismatch.
• Ummm…defense guys!  The Pistons are 6-6 from the field right now…make that 7-7 McDyess drills a jumper.  15-8.
• Brook Lopez is working Antonio McDyess.  He gets to the foul line, where he is shooting just over 80%.
• CDR getting some early action as he replaces Dooling.  He starts up matched up on Rip.  That’s a tough assignment, but I think CDR is quick enough to get around all of the screens and long enough to contest shot attempts.
• Nice little high-low between the rookies Lopez and Anderson.  Anderson to the line.
• Kwame Brown sighting.  He draws the foul as we get to the first media.  15-11 Pistons are up.
• So the Pistons miss their first shot with about 5 minutes left, and we get CDR to drill a jumper.
• Anderson isn’t able to keep up with Wallace right now, he has 8 points with 2 threes.
• Devon Harris gets to the lane and draws the foul, we need more of that tonight.  Stuckey can’t match his speed.
• Lopez gets pinned in the post deep, and Kwame Brown draws Lopez’s second foul.
• Yi!  Finally get to see him on the court, he’s playing center, but at least he is out there.
• The game tomorrow is on YES2…blah…no HD for me tomorrow.
• Yi being productive!  His crash of the board draws a foul on Rip.  Yi is on the line for two.
• Boone enters the game, Yi moves back to the 4, which is good because I want to see how he does there.  We got Josh Boone, Keyon Dooling, CDR, Yi, and Hayes.  I though Frank said he was going to play his regulars.
• Yi being productive!  He drills a three!
• Dooling drills a shot at the buzzer, and we end the first quarter down 7.  The score is 20-27.  We are off our pace to hit the win #, which is 100 points.
• It seems like the Nets are in a lull for the first quarter today.  Maybe it is because they were just eliminated from the playoffs, or maybe it is because Frank is playing guys not used to getting minutes, but I don’t know, something just looks off.  Here’s to hoping the offense can get back on track in the second quarter.
• CDR is doing a fantastic job on Rip.  I don’t think he has even hit a basket since CDR started covering him.
• Kwame Brown is looking like a #1 pick against us…oh yeah, he was one…
• The Nets are getting pounded of the defensive glass right now.  The Pistons lead 32-22.
• It’s amazing that Will Bynum went undrafted.  He was playing in Israel earlier in the year, that’s just crazy…
• Boone misses a lay-up, can we please take him out of the game?
• Alright fellas, my internet is acting up.  I am still watching the game and will give my thoughts when it is over, but the Live Bullets are over.  It is probably for the best, I am none too happy right now…

Tinkering With The Look

What’s up everyone, if you are visiting TheNetsAreScorching today, and you notice the header looking a little funny, or the themes are all weird, I am changing the look of the blog.  The old theme was starting to annoy me.  Bear with me today folks, we should have everything settled by tonight/early tomorrow.

Game 79 Preview: Detroit Pistons vs. New Jersey Nets

Alright, the game at 8:00 tonight, and since the Yankees aren’t playing tonight, the game is on YES.

• I was pleasantly surprised to see that we are winning the season series against the Pistons 2-1.  Both of our wins came at the Izod center though, and the series finale is in Detroit.
• In both of our wins, we put up over 100 points, that seems like the goal we need to reach again tonight.
• Both teams are struggling a bit, as we are both 4-6 in our last 10.
• The Pistons are 20-19 at home and the Nets are 15-24 on the road.

Nets Starting Lineup

• PG – Devin Harris
• SG – Keyon Dooling
• SF – Vince Carter
• PF – Ryan Anderson
• C – Brook Lopez

Celtics Starting Lineup

• PG – Rodney Stuckey
• SG – Richard Hamilton
• SF – Tayshaun Prince
• PF – Rasheed Wallace
• C – Antonio McDyess

Their Mismatches

• Rasheed Wallace vs. Ryan Anderson – When Rasheed is on, he is a matchup problem for any team in this league.  Especially a rookie.  I see Rasheed going inside and working his post game on a smaller (physically) Anderson.  It might get to the point where we are going to need to send a double at him.

Our Mismatches

• Devin Harris vs. Rodney Stuckey- I think that Rodney doesn’t have the speed to stay in front of Devin, and he will be able to get to the rim at will.  I also think that Devin is smarting from the whipping that Rajon Rondo gave him in their last game.  Look for a double double out of Devin.

Key Matchup

• Vince Carter vs. Tayshaun Prince – Tayshaun is a freak of nature, he has a long wingspan, and he can probably tie his shoes without bending over.  That being said, if Vince settles for jumpers tonight (like he did in that final possession against Boston), Tayshaun is going to be there to easily contest those shots with his long freak-boy arms.  Vince needs to take it to the rack, draw fouls, get to the line, and get open looks for his teammates.  We all know it’s possible for VC to drive the ball to the hole, but it just seems like he is hesitant to do it at times.

Final Random Thoughts

• The Nets offense has been clicking as of late, the lowest point total that we have in April is 94.  And in our last two games, we have had 7 guys and 6 guys in double figures.  It has been nice to see.
• On the other hand, we are only 2-2 in April because our defense hasn’t been getting the job done.
• 100 points is the goal.  We score over 100 we win.  The Pistons just can’t score that much, so this is going to be a game where we are going to have to outscore them.
• I would like to see Yi and CDR get some more time tonight (CDR probably will and Yi will rack up another DNP).   We need to see if these guys are going to be able to contribute or not next season so we can know what we have to do in the draft.  I mean, the final results of the games don’t really matter at this point now that we are eliminated from the playoffs.

The Result

• Our offense has been clicking as of late, and I think after a hot start we cruise to an easy win.