Joe Netsfan Game x Game 15 - Nets 106 , Celtics 103

Still beating after all...

Nets 106, Celtics 103
Game 15 File
A six game losing streak is history thanks to the combined efforts of Carter, Kidd and Hassan Adams in leading the Nets out of the wilderness. After a lackluster first half and a spirit-crushing 14 - 0 Celt run in the third, the Nets show character and toughness by fighting their way back and making shots at the end to bring home the much-needed win.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 6 - 9
Home Record: 3 - 4
Away Record: 3 - 5
Division Record: 2 - 0
Conf. Record: 5 - 3
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Vince Carter, 23.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 9.
• Rebounds: Vince Carter, 9.
• Steals: Carter and Kidd each had 3.
• Turnovers: Jason Kidd, 3.
• Blocks: Jefferson and Moore each had 1.
• FG Percentage: Hassan Adams, 66.7% (6 - 9).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 48.0%
• FT Percentage: 90.9%
• Rebounds: 40
• Rebound Differential: +3
• Turnovers:11
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 14
• Bench points: 29
• Bench points Differential:+1
• Steals: 9
• Blocks:2
• Points in the Paint: 50
• Double-Doubles: 0
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 5
• Nets Fast Break Points: 10
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 56.3% (9 - 16).
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: +5
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: -2 (Williams)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 4
• Triple Doubles this Season: 2
• Career Triple Doubles: 77

Nets Media
Bergen Record | Nets
Newark Star-Ledger | Nets
Newsday | Nets
NY Daily News | NBA
NY Post | Nets
NY Times | Pro Basketball
YES Network | Nets

Nets Team Pages
CNNSI.com | Nets
ESPN.com | Nets
FoxSports | Nets
NBA.com | Nets
Sportsline.com | Nets

Celtics Media:
Boston Globe | Celtics
Boston Herald | Celtics

Game 15: Nets 106, Celtic 103 – November 29, 2006
From D O A To W I N
There they were, left for dead - your New Jersey Nets, on the wrong side of a 14 - 0 Celtic run in the third quarter that all put slapped the toe tag on yet another brutal loss. With a continued strange indifference to those things that had kept them alive during the Kidd era, plus a bottled up inside Vince Carter, this one had all the makings of headline screaming for the blood of L. Frank.

But from the bottom, up came the Nets, miraculously, like some born-again convert to energy and intensity. Following a re-animated Carter, a surgeon's steady hand in Jason Kidd, and a heart-stopping burst of life-affirming gumption from rookie Hassan Adams, the Nets fought, clawed and scratched their way out of the grave they had dug for themselves and survived a wild finish to outlast the C's in Boston.

And with that, a six game losing streak is buried along with the bodies of indifference.

Climbing off the gurney seemed impossible if you witnessed the self-inflicted wounds the Nets had in the first half, with lackadaisical defense and passive offense dooming the Nets to follow and not lead. Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak were busy injecting the Nets with a case of the nightsweats, with strikes of scoring against what could only be called a confused Net defense keeping the Nets at bay. Defending the Nets, and a strangely laid-back Carter, with zones and double-teams, plus the occasional trap, was too easy. The one extreme positive was the energy and play of the rook Adams, who livened up the joint with this stint during the second quarter, hustling his way to 8 of his 16 points.

In the third quarter, confusion reigned. The Nets were made to look disorganized, turning the ball over, getting picked apart on defense, and surrendering a bone-jarring 14 - 0 Celt run that all but announced the Nets' last collective breath. Pierce had 9 of those points, and was making it look like a plague had inflicted the Nets. It was Jason Kidd who decided enough was enough, and his dances through the Celtic defense (not to be confused with the Russell-era Celtic defense, that's for sure) scored 10 of the last 12 Net points in the third quarter during a 14 - 7 run cut the lead back down from 15 to 8.

And then, Carter came back with shock treatment from the bench, and turned back into the player the Nets have come to count on. Scoring 16 points in the quarter simply by being aggressive, the Nets battled back by handing the ball to Carter and letting him work, or following the energy of Adams. Those two combined for all of the 14 points the Nets used to shave the deficit down to 2 points (with an 11 - 0 run) with just over 7 minutes to play, and then NJ took their first lead since 2 - 0 on two Adams free throws with under 6 to play. Pierce and Szczerbiak kept coming, though, and opened a four point edge back up before the dramatic ending.

Their senses now alive and buzzing, first Adams hit a long two pointer, then after a bad turnover by the Celts, Carter hit two free throws to tie the game at 101. After Szczerbiak missed a jumper and Nenad Krstic had his shot blocked, Pierce nailed a fadeaway with 1:41 to go to put the Celts up two. But with a flair for the dramatic, the Nets cycled the ball around through Carter and then Kidd on the next possession before Kidd gave it up to Richard Jefferson behind the arc. RJ killed the beast of a losing streak with a straight-away three before the Celtics last chance, a rushed, ill-advised, too early in the shot clock attempt at a three by Paul Pierce fell flat. Even with one more last chance to tie, the Celtics wasted too much clock, and then Szczerbiak inexplicably came toward the basket before losing the ball out of bounds, ticking off Pierce that the C's never got a shot off AND they didn't try to take a three.

Off the slab and back into first place, all after a dreadful third quarter flogging. Who says the Nets are dead, anyway?

Doctor's Notes
Clinically Dead, Miracle Recovery - Anyone who can explain the Nets' sudden transformation in the third quarter, please give me a shout. As is usually the case, Kidd started it with his energy, dashing down the court several times in an about-face to previous performances earlier in the game. Mad as hell and not going to take it anymore? And of course he was again close to a trip-dub, with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. Then, cueing on the energy from Hassan Adams, who gets a gold star (and a call-out to coach Frank as to why the hell it took that long to insert him into a game just for the energy the flat Nets needed for the past week-and-a-half), Mr. Carter changed his demeanor and attacked, like he's supposed to. With this sudden shift, combined with a new-found passion to at least make it tough on the Celts defensively, the game turned from a L to a W.
Physically FIt - The Nets need to run more, but find they really are having trouble doing so as teams are staying home more on them. Of course, they're also making tons of shots against the Net defense, so there you go right there. But, the slasher/defender known as Hassan Chop showed everyone he's ripe for playing time. Tonight, 16 points, on a variety of jumpers, slashes to the hoop and free throws, plus 8 rebounds and only 1 turnover in 22 game-changing minutes is just what the doctor ordered for the ill Nets. And he got to play some meaningful minutes AND defense Paul Pierce...impressive. He laid down the vibe in the second quarter, and blasted it open in the fourth, seemingly immune to the pressure of trying to stop a long losing streak. Kudos.
Frankenstein's Monster - OK, did anyone else besides me notice that the Nets made a run after Jason Collins departed the game (never to return, I might add). Defending the Nets has come down to doubling Carter, watching Krstic and Jefferson, letting Kidd float, and leaving Collins unguarded. This has been helping to bog the entire offense down. Watching him get caught in no-man's land after a Celtic trap found the ball in his hands, and his trying to dish to Mikki Moore resulting in an ugly fumble was just extra mustard for the Collins bashers. Only 11 minutes tonight...
Adrenaline OD - What is the deal with Carter? He seems to be laying back, waiting for something to happen, especially over the last few games. No attacking the basket, deferring to other lesser lights, and seemingly content to watch and play defense...finally, the alarm clock went off late, and Vince managed to scrape up 16 fourth quarter points.
Taking A Physical - OK, goods and bads everywhere in this one. Rebounding still strong, turnovers were down, free throw shooting first rate (played a big hand in the win, with the Nets going 15 for 16 in the fourth vs. the Celtics 2 - 2) and shot select in second half was good. But, the first half performance overall, the defense (C's shot 49%, and 52% from three) and intensity especially, the utter confusion during the 14 - 0 run, making it too easy for the Celts, and too many wide open threes are signs that nothing is fixed, just postponed for an evening.
Weight Gain - Geeze, that Mikki Moore sure is skinny, ain't he? He needs to bulk up a bit. Oh, and someone please teach him how to rebound...

Call Off The Coroner
Paging Drs Vince Carter, Jason Kidd and Hassan Adams...please pick up your patient and keep him alive for more than just one night. Who would have guessed that this game would turn out on the winning side about mid-way through the third quarter? The Nets got a great lift tonight from a source they weren't necessarily expecting - touting the veteran experience, it was a rookie 'tweener who just came out and played, and showed the Nets the way. No denying this is still a very rough work in progress, but at least the potential can be seen by all, especially the head coach. As for the Nets, well, nothing comes easy these days, but a win, especially now to stem a six game losing streak, and against a fellow division mate, is more than appreciated. Continue to work on the rough spots, NJ, knowing that much of December will be spent at home.
– Joe