Cornrowed and cornholed by the pounding Sixers' four-piece

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Five Alive
Let me highlight the obvious about our new Nets: if you can manage to peak at a stat sheet without seeing the score, you can figure the Nets have won when they've got five guys in double digits. Sixers did it with four guys this game (and I'm pretty sure I've seen Lakers stats where they've done it with two), but the Nets need a total team effort to win. In no way are the Nets top-heavy, scoring-wise. With a brilliant point guard they've achieved cohesion. When he's off, so are they. Simple facts from a simple guy.
- Champagne

November 17, 2001 - Sixers 94, Nets 82
Physical Graffiti
The Nets took a beating tonight, physically and mentally, when the levee broke and the Sixers gotta whole lotta love from Philly's Page and Plant, Allen Iverson and ex-Net Derrick Coleman, in a 94 - 82 gate-crashing. The Nets made two runs back from deep deficits, but ultimately, Jason Kidd's bad game and all-around poor shooting led to the writing on the wall in the fourth quarter. The Sixers played outstanding defense all game, forcing 17 Net turnovers, and put up a wall inside.

The Sixers, having made the NBA finals last season, are much tougher than any team the Nets have faced thus far. And even more importantly (and impressively), the Sixers are unbelievably tough mentally. The Nets didn't help things by playing some matador defense and generally not playing smart. The Sixers are a legitimately tough basketball team. Although the Nets came apart at times, overall they hung in there for most of the game. No shame in that. Last year, the Nets lose this game by 20, with no comebacks. The Nets need to build on this beating by staying positive and aiming for a 3 - 2 West Coast road trip that starts Monday in Denver.

Random Thoughts
T-Mac Redeems Himself - About the only effective Nets starters were Kenyon Martin and our ex-Sixer $34 million man, Todd MacCulloch. MacCulloch was the only Net who could do anything inside and finished with 15 points and 9 boards.

Would You Like Some Cream on Your Keith Van Crumble? - An out-of-synch nightmare for Van Horn. Hit a few big shots late as the Nets attempted yet another comeback, but otherwise wasn't a factor in 24 minutes. The pace of the game seemed too fast for him; he didn't adjust. An ongoing work-in-progress, a bad game or a sign of things to come?

The Song Remains The Same - The Nets' bench once again outscored the opponents' bench. Richard Jefferson's 11 points alone were more than the total Sixers' bench scoring (9). This, of course, is a moot point when the first teamers play so unevenly.

Alternate Views - Joe watched the game on Comcast Sports, the Philadelphia outlet for Sixer basketball, on a tv set in southern Jersey. Sixer announcers Marc Zumoff and Steve Mix have, shall we say, a more home team bias than I'm used to with Bird and Raf. Some of their not-so-pity quips:
1) Steve Mix, on Van Horn's struggles in the game - "Here's Van Horn, he's a starter, he's leaking."
2) Marc Zumoff, on the chemistry between Jason Kidd and the Nets - "Jason Kidd has come here and created something that Steve Mix and I still don't have after eight years: chemistry."
3) Zumoff again, on an Iverson long distance bomb - "All cotton for Allen Iverson." "All cotton" just doesn't cut it when you've been treated to Raftery's "Nylon damage!"

"Are You Kidd'n?" Play of the Game - Kidd, on the steal, drives through the lane and throws up and 'oop to Jefferson for the slam. But Kidd got called for an offensive foul. The Oop that got away.

What Joe Liked
1) Jefferson's Energy - When no one else could pick up their play, Jefferson once again ran the floor with almost reckless abandon. Nice 11 point, 7 rebound game in 24 minutes.
2) Martin's Punctuation Marks - Kenyon had a nice game, with 16 points, 8 boards and 5 blocked shots, including two of his patented "run from behind" rejections.
3) Stretch Armstrong - Brandon Armstrong played his first extended minutes of the season, scoring his first NBA field goal and generally not embarassing himself. Except when Iverson blew by him. But that happens to the best of them.

What Joe Didn't Like
1) Kidd's Lament - No, he doesn't have to score for the Nets to win. But it sure helps. No points, on 0 -9 shooting, to go with his 12 assists and 9 rebounds. His vaunted decision making was also off, as he had 5 turnovers and a host of forced plays that the Sixer defense just ate up.
2) Too Many One-and-Dones - When the Nets can't run, and they don't run an effective half court set, they have no chance. The gang that can't shoot straight (38% shooting) just can't get it done by heaving up long distance shots. And speaking of which...
2) 0 for 12 - If the Nets can't hit from beyond the arc, then they won't come back from big deficits consistently. Both teams combined to go 1 -21 on three's, with the only successful shot coming from Derrick Coleman, of all people.

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