Thunder 117, Nets 111: So close and yet…

Deron-Williams15

In a game without starting center Brook Lopez and backup power forward/Flail Boy Magic Mr. Floptastic/the league’s leading rebounder by percentage Reggie Evans, the Nets fell behind big in the first half. Down 61-48, the Nets clawed back in the third behind their starting five and noted inventor of palindromes Jerry Stackhouse, but didn’t have the shooting touch throughout the night to finish this one with a win. Still, the Nets played almost even with one of the best teams in basketball without two of their key players and a third (Joe Johnson) forgetting to play for the first 41 minutes, so… moral victories!

Here’s your Net Worth:

Deron Williams POINT GUARD

Very active throughout the game, including a shot from the “A” in “BARCLAYS CENTER” on the floor, which in technical terms is “really really far.” With the Nets getting crunked on in the second and third quarter, D-Will went to both-ends work, hitting shots, attacking the lane and trying to cause havoc in the defensive backcourt. Hit outside shots like in no other game this season. Truly a phenomenal game from Williams, the kind you hate to see wasted in a loss. I imagine there were moments tonight that felt like 2011.

Joe Johnson SHOOTING GUARD

“Heyyyy Joe…. say where you going with that ball in your hands?”

“I’m going down to shoot this old ball.. You know it’s missing as soon as it leaves my hands…”

Rumor has it he played before the 7-minute mark of the fourth quarter tonight. Still trying to confirm. But once I was sure he was in the game he started doing this weird thing where he hits shots in the post. Before his on-fire fourth, he was cruising for an F. Perhaps if he’d caught fire earlier…

Gerald Wallace SMALL FORWARD

Invisible first half led to a third-quarter EXPLOSION. Wallace hit four threes — all above the break, where he’s struggled from this season — and with a little help from Deron Williams, helped the Nets claw back into the game. But his B- is for that third quarter alone — barely affected the game otherwise and missed a key late layup.

Kris Humphries POWER FORWARD

Thought he had a quietly effective game that turned into a loudly effective one when he broke out with two big three-point plays and some offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter. Got burned inside one too many times, but against a team like Oklahoma City, that’s just going to happen.

Andray Blatche POWER FORWARD

Did a little fancy dancing inside and threw one of his patented behind-the-back dribbles in motion, Did pick up five fouls and thus sat most of the fourth quarter, but another really effective game for the bench mob’s leading man.

Jerry Stackhouse SHOOTING GUARD

Got posterized by Serge Ibaka, which is kind of meaningless because there’s no 2012 universe that Jerry Stackhouse is going to block Serge Ibaka at the rim. His 3-point shot is coming back to earth…

… and he STILL led the Nets in Plus-Minus.

WHAT IS GOING ON

Mirza Teletovic POWER FORWARD

#MirzaFreed, #MirzaHitA3AndAPullUpJumper, #MirzaHitAnotherLate3, #MirzaDidntDoADamnThingElse.