Well, this pretty much says it all about the significance of the tail end of the Nets season. A game that came down to the wire (one that demanded a #LeaguePassAlert from John Schuhmann, even though he had to preface it with “quick,” because not even he was expecting it) was so pointless, that the game-winning shot with a second left to play couldn’t muster anything better than No. 10 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 for the night. Usually the top spot is reserved for late-game heroics, but there was the spectacular yet underwhelming finish of Nets-Bobcats, barely clinging to the list — and I’m not even sure it belonged there.
This is my last game recap of the Nets season, and I’m pretty happy about it. They’re just so sluggish at this point in the year that no matter the thrill of their accomplishments, it’s like pulling teeth to watch the games. In fact, the Bobcats should feel bad for almost losing to this farce. I’m sure they were as shocked as I was that their opponent allowed Dante Cunningham to shoot 10-of-16 from the field. Or Boris Diaw’s 8-of-11. Or Kwame Brown’s 4-of-8. Or Dominic McGuire and Garrett Temple’s 3-of-4s. Or D.J. White’s 3-of-5, for that matter.
THE BOBCATS SHOT 57 PERCENT. IN THE HISTORY OF UNHOLY THINGS, TELL ME: IS THIS THE UNHOLIEST?
Now that I got that out of my system …
If not for Brook Lopez, the Bobcats security probably would have kicked the Nets players out of the arena for impersonating an NBA team. The scoring, not-rebounding big man was stellar once again, posting 31 points on 12-23 shooting, clinching a 20-point-per-game average on the season, regardless what happens in Wednesday’s finale.
But the greatest indicator that the Nets were impostors was the shooting of the former Lakers, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic, who scorched the nets (Ha. Get it?) for a combined 39 points on 15-of-25 shooting. In fact, Vujacic tied the game late by putting on his invisibility cloak and running to the corner for a wide-open three (before Augustin’s dagger). It’s too bad no one will remember this past lunchtime.
Stephen Graham and Travis Outlaw were themselves, in case anyone was wondering. But no one was wondering.
Brandan Wright actually got some playing time, and, golly, he kind of played well. He had 10 points and didn’t miss a shot. Maybe he should have been playing. But call me crazy for thinking a young player should get a chance to develop in a no-risk scenario.
It’s clear that Avery Johnson and the Nets are trying to make the end of this season as nondescript as possible, maybe to torture the few remaining viewers, maybe to make their reappearing act in free agency or next season all the more shocking. But it’s just so bad right now.
NetsDaily made an interesting point on Twitter today. In the event of a full-season lockout in 2011-2012, Monday’s loss will be the last game that the Nets play in the state of New Jersey. It’s deep stuff, but, hey, I don’t really care. What I want is for Wednesday to come, and for it to come quickly, so I can stop watching these terrible games and reenergize for next season, whenever that comes.
