 |
Kris Humphries, PF 38 MIN | 7-18 FG | 2-2 FT | 21 REB | 3 AST | 16 PTS | +7
He was super active and again the best player on the floor. He nearly had a double-double in the first quarter, but it is so obvious why Humphries can never be anything more than a role player. He thrives when others can create offense for him or when he can simply clean the glass. He struggles when he’s forced to create for himself in the post, but saying anything negative about him after a game like this seems like nitpicking. |
 |
 |
Jordan Farmar, PG 27 MIN | 3-9 FG | 4-4 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 10 PTS | -6
He forced things early and didn’t shoot particularly well. If there’s anything we should learn about Farmar it’s that he is better suited in small doses. It was also telling that Avery elected to go with Gaines down the stretch over Farmar. |
 |
 |
MarShon Brooks, G 21 MIN | 4-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 5 AST | 9 PTS | -3
He had what I would call a typical MarShon Brooks game tonight: He scored in all sorts of ways, off cuts, off of drives, spot ups and even dished the ball pretty well tonight including a gorgeous behind the back pass to get Shelden Williams a bucket. I wish he’d eliminate the forced, contested jumpers from his game, but he’ll get there in time. Also lost minutes to Gerald Green. |
 |
 |
Sundiata Gaines, G 22 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 5 AST | 8 PTS | +22
He provided great energy off the bench, as usual, but also was the ultimate ship steadier tonight. Jordan Farmar clearly didn’t have it and with Deron Williams in street clothes, the Nets really needed Gaines to come through and he did. |
 |
 |
Anthony Morrow, SG 27 MIN | 6-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 15 PTS | +17
I mean come on, if this guy’s feet are set he’s most likely going to make the shot. Each one of his three pointers seemed to be momentum grabbing and important. Him and Gerald Green also did a serviceable job on the defensive end chasing the Raptors guards around screens. |
|
 |
Gerald Green, SG 25 MIN | 9-13 FG | 7-9 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 26 PTS | +17
Once again Gerald Green is proving that he belongs in this league once and for all. He did a bit of everything tonight including scoring and defense. He’s athleticism is allowing him to play the passing lanes well and the nice thing is you can run a play for him. His decision making can still get him into trouble, but you have to take the good with the bad. |
|
 |
Johan Petro, C 24 MIN | 4-6 FG | 2-2 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 10 PTS | +18
He was challenging shots at the rim and proved to be a viable catch and finish player today. Certainly one of his best games of the season if for no other fact than nothing he did made me shake my head in disgust. |
 |
Four Things We Saw
- I was interested to see how the nets would respond to tonight’s game after all the craziness being reported in the news just hours earlier. And they surprised me with decent energy. I’ll give Avery Johnson the credit for that. He obviously did a good job keeping the Nets focused on the game and ready to play.
- The pairing of Gerald Green and Anthony Morrow at our swing positions is an interesting combination. Green’s hyper slashing mixes well with Morrow’s defense expanding range. I imagine over time Green will begin looking to the perimeter to find Morrow on his bull rushes to the cup.
- Who would have known that the answer to all of our small forward issues was just sitting in the D-League, a 10 day contract away from relevance? If the league is about opportunities then Gerald Green is certainly making the most of his opportunity with the Nets. His 26 points tonight was fun to watch but equally impressive was the way he took over the offense in the fourth quarter and closed out the win.
- Tomorrow is the day. The trade deadline ends at 3:00 P.M. and at that point we will at least have finality to the situation until at least the end of the season. My gut is telling me that no deal will get completed and Dwight will remain with the Magic until the off season, but this situation has been so fluid, who really knows what will happen. Either way, should be an interesting next couple of hours.
