DERON WILLIAMS PUT DOWN A DOUBLE-PUMP REVERSE DUNK. LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MOMENT. Deron Williams played the first half of the season with crippling pain in his ankles, dunked twice all year on rudimentary one-handed dunks, and DUNKED WITH TWO HANDS IN THE FIRST PLAYOFF GAME IN BROOKLYN.
Before that, played an excellent first half — attacked the rim, found Lopez near the rim for easy buckets, shot well from inside and out, picked off a few steals — one that led to THAT DOUBLE-PUMP REVERSE DUNK — and looked like the maximum-contract point guard the Nets signed in July.
Had a quiet game, but they had no need for him to get loud — hit open shots within the flow of the offense.
Did you ever think, after the last two months, that this place would chant “GERALD WALLACE” multiple times throughout the game? He picked a great time to have his best game in months. Attacking the rim, drawing fouls, playing solid defense, even hitting a three-pointer. Abused mismatches when the Bulls cross-switched on screens. Shut down Luol Deng. If the Nets had this kind of effectiveness from Gerald Wallace all season…
Scored the first points in Brooklyn playoff basketball history, and he was just getting started. If there were any playoff jitters, it didn’t look like Lopez had them. Started phenomenally on both ends of the floor — scoring through contact, playing smart man and help defense, drawing fouls, blocking shots, and putting up 19 points in the game-defining first half. If the Bulls have this Joakim Noah all series — the hobbled, ineffective one — this matchup may end quickly.
Mostly good in moderation Dray tonight. Had a good stretch in the third where he hit Carlos Boozer with the okie-doke and hit a 20-footer on successive possessions. The greatest show in sports rages on. Kudos to Carlesimo for seeing the advantage of him & Lopez on the floor together against a depleted Chicago frontline.
Evans may not be an offensive player, but he can score around the rim when he’s not facing a shotblocker. He did just that tonight on two occasions, and rebounded with his normal maniacal ferocity.
JERRY STACKHOUSE ANGELED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BECAUSE SAYING HE ACED IT WOULD BE TOO MUCH OF A COMPLIMENT TO PLAYING CARDS. I DON’T CARE THAT HE AIRBALLED THREE SHOTS. KILLED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE NETS BLEW A TEAM OUT AND AIN’T NO WAY YOU CAN TELL ME THOSE TWO THINGS AREN’T CORRELATED. JERRY STACKHOUSE LISTENS TO GOSPEL BEFORE EVERY GAME SO HE CAN LAUGH AT THOSE LESS TALENTED. I’M SORRY YOU DIDN’T SCORE BUT THE TEAM DON’T CARE BECAUSE GAME ONE GOES TO BROOKLYN. AND I LIVE IN BROOKLYN. OH AND LOOK AT HIS GODDAMN SHOES. A+ FOR JERRY STACKHOUSE AKA CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP AKA THE HUMAN KEG STAND. I’M OUT.
Came up big against his former team. Played well, as is wont to do, when he functioned as a shooting guard.
