Joe Netsfan Round 1m Game 1 - Nets 96, Raptors 91

Stealing away a win against the zoned out Raptors

Nets 96, Raptors 91
Round 1, Game 1 File
Getting out to a fast start in a game of runs behind the pinpoint passing of Jason Kidd and the scoring of Richard Jefferson, the Nets survive and off day by Vince Carter by getting a full team contribution. Zone defense stymies the Raptor attack, Chris Bosh sits for a long stretch due to foul trouble and the Nets capitalize by stealing home court advantage in Toronto.
• Box Score

Series Record: 1 - 0

Nets High Men:
• Points: Richard Jefferson, 28.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 15.
• Rebounds: Jason Kidd, 10.
• Steals: Kidd, Moore and Jefferson each had 2.
• Turnovers: Kidd and Carter each had 3.
• Blocks: Vince Carter, 3.
• FG Percentage: Richard Jefferson, 52.3% (11 - 21). Jason Collins was 3 - 3.

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 42.4%
• FT Percentage: 69.2%
• Rebounds: 46
• Rebound Differential: +4
• Turnovers: 13
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 15
• Bench points: 29
• Bench points Differential:+3
• Steals: 8
• Blocks: 7
• Points in the Paint: 46
• Double-Doubles: 1 (Jason Kidd: 10 rebounds, 15 assists)
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 3
• Nets Fast Break Points: 20
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 27.3% (3 - 11).
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: +1
• Scoring Differential Kidd out: +4 (Williams)
• Double-Doubles this Season: 33
• Triple Doubles this Season: 12
• Career Triple Doubles: 87

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

Raptors Media:
Toronto Star
Toronto Sun | Raptors

Round 1, Game 1: Nets 96, Raptors 91 – April 21, 2007
Stolen Moments
Maybe it was the psyche job the Nets pulled on Toronto to open this first round playoff series - with the crowd dressed all in red to cheer on their Raptors, the Nets came out in their alternate road red jerseys. And, judging by what transpired in this one, the Nets flat out stole the Raptors home court advantage by throwing them off balance on the court as well as off it, using zone defense, Richard Jefferson offense (as directed by Jason Kidd), and a big, big shot by Boki Nachbar in the fourth quarter to offset an off day by Vince Carter and steal away Game 1.

So with red as the color of the day, the Nets came out and attacked the Raptors, with Jason Kidd's precision passing leading to easy Richard Jefferson buckets, even as Vince Carter was having a hard time getting the ball to fall. Unfortunately for the Nets, TJ Ford was getting easy buckets with penetration, forcing the Nets to start considering the zone defense. When Chris Bosh went out with his second foul only six minutes in, the Nets took over, building a lead as high as 11 after a Boki Nachbar three mid-way through the second quarter. And the Raptors, having trouble getting inside and struggling with their outside shot, looked cooked.

But with Bosh returning to the game with six minutes before the half, the Raptors went on a run of their own and cut the lead to three, before the Nets forced two turnovers, watched Jason Collins get a nice stick-back, Antoine Wright a nice driving layup, and then a Jefferson reverse dunk in transition, and it was a 10 point lead at the break.

Starting the third quarter, it was the Raptors that came out firing, quickly cutting the 10 point lead back to one behind Bosh before the Nets used yet another basket by Collins to go on their own 8 - 0 run even as Carter hit the bench with his fourth foul. With the Nets again firing at will and making buckets in transition, and with the role players off the bench making contributions (Nachbar, Josh Boone, Marcus Williams and Wright had their moments), the Nets ended the third quarter up by 13 and looking fine in Toronto. The crowd had been all but quieted, except when Carter touched the ball, and the sea of red jerseys looked like a home NJ crowd.

But these are the playoffs, teams make runs, and well, these are the Nets we're talking about. Carter returned to start the fourth, but still couldnt' get his shot to fall, and meanwhile, the Nets found themselves in a drought just as the Raptors was starting to make shots. After Carter made a runner with 9:42 left to give the Nets a 13 point lead, they went more than seven minutes without a field goal, watching as Jose Calderon got the Rapts running and gunning, with a Calderon three and a two bringing the Net lead down to a point with 4:10 remaining. Panic time, as the noise level was rising?

Well, earlier in the year, probably, but the Nets had the veteran's edge, and they went back to work. After misses on both ends, RJ was fouled and converted a free throw, then Bosh was fouled and made one of two to keep it at a one point game with 2:58 to go. Then, the shot of the night, the momentum changer, the game stealer - Boki Nachbar took a pass off a Carter drive and buried a three, giving the Nets a four point edge. After Jefferson blocked a Anthony Parker shot, Carter was fouled a made a free throw, giving the Nets a five point lead, and then Nachbar made two free throws after a Calderon miss. With a seven point lead and less than two minutes to play, the Nets needed to ride out the clock, and that they did, letting the Raptors get as close as four points before icing the game with free throws.

This was a fun game, watching the Raptors fans having to swallow their hate for Carter, not because of Carter but because all the other Nets did their jobs. Game 1 goes to NJ, who can easily settle for a split and head back to NJ at least tied 1 - 1 if not up 2 - 0. The Raptors will clearly make more shots than they made today, and will likely have Bosh for longer than the 34 foul plagued minutes he had. Should be another fun game in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Afternoon Delights
Across Time Zones - Credit the Nets zone defense for turning the tables on the Raptors, allowing for all the transition buckets and open shots for NJ while taking away transition opportunities as well as inside play for Toronto. Lawrence Frank adjusted well to the game, and his experienced charges made it happen. I think I saw a stat afterward that said the Raptors scored on 8 of 30 zone possessions - that's making something happen.
Fond Reflections - Who else but Kidd would control the opening of this one? Getting 8 assists on the Nets' first 11 baskets, most of them easy, close-in scores by Richard Jefferson, setting the tone and making the Raptors scramble early was a huge part of this win. JKidd would finish with 15 dimes and 10 rebounds, but another key was the 20 fast break points the Nets enjoyed as well as the 46 - 20 points in the paint advantage, all made possible by Kidd. And Richard Jefferson was the beneficiary, getting those easy buckets on run-outs or sharp Kidd passes for close-to-the-basket scores. If the Nets can keep this up, it'll be a short series for the Raptors.
Geek Trick - Methinks Vince Carter tried to do too much, forcing shots and taking some of those fallaway jumpers he should be avoiding. Luckily, though, he did get other contributions (7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) and he had 8 of his points in the fourth quarter, earning each and every one of them the hard way. Here's hoping VC settles down for Game 2, lets it all come to him, and he's able to quiet that Raptor hatred of him once and for all.
DFrozen In Time - Clearly, the Raptors were affected when Chris Bosh was forced to the bench with foul trouble early. Until that point the Raptors seemed to be able to get any shot they wanted, and when they went out (and the zone went up), things got much more difficult. Having to spend too much time digging out from under, the Raptors couldn't quite close the deal in the fourth, being overtaken again by the veteran Nets. Don't expect this to occur in Game 2.
(Not Quite) Energizer Bunny - But we saw more energy and lift and activity from Jason Collins than we probably did all season long. If he can give the Nets 6 points and 5 rebounds, plus tough defense on Bosh, like he did today, the Nets will be in fine position. He played so well we never got to see Cliff Robinson leave the bench...
Red Alert - Gotta love the Nets screwing with the Raptors' heads by wearing the red unis (which they are now committed to for the rest of this series). It sent a message early that the Nets aren't here to be anyone's patsies, and that the Raptor crowd certainly couldn't force them into playing bad basketball...

Time Bandits
Making use of their experience, the Nets get big games from Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, and expert assistance off the bench from Boki Nachbar, Antoine Wright, Marcus Williams and Josh Boone to survive the late Raptor rush and take Game 1. Don' t expect all the pieces to fall into place for the rest of the series, though - the Raptors will adjust and give the Nets a handful. But the big questions have been answered - Vince Carter was not ready to exorcise his demons in Toronto, but Richard Jefferson was feeling just fine, Jason Kidd was just doing what he always does, and the Nets found enough defense to bring home the win. Game 2 is Tuesday night - expect the Raptors to make more shots, and send the Nets scrambling. Let's see how the Nets, again the veteran team, respond.
-Joe