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Gerald Wallace, SF 35 MIN | 4-11 FG | 6-8 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 14 PTS | -18
Was instrumental in the Nets’ furious 3rd-quarter run, attacking the basket and getting to the line. That said, Crash has missed a significant number of layups since joining the Nets. |
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Kris Humphries, PF 23 MIN | 0-6 FG | 2-2 FT | 10 REB | 2 AST | 2 PTS | -15 Humphries had a pretty ambitious assignment tonight — control Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors, and occasionally check Al Jefferson. Even considering that assignment, outside of the occasional rebound in traffic, he was god-awful tonight. I rarely give out F’s — they require a complete and abject failure — but Humphries earned it tonight. |
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Deron Williams, PG 40 MIN | 7-21 FG | 2-5 FT | 4 REB | 11 AST | 17 PTS | -7
After a largely forgettable first half, D-Will found his touch in the third quarter, scoring both inside and out. Dished five assists in the quarter as well. For that 12-minute stretch, he was vintage Deron Williams. Missed that guy in the other 36. |
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MarShon Brooks, G 26 MIN | 3-10 FG | 4-4 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 10 PTS | -25
His cold spell continues; had some nice plays in the third quarter, but was largely ineffective as a scorer and didn’t affect the game in any significant way otherwise. |
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Gerald Green, SG 30 MIN | 7-14 FG | 2-6 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 20 PTS | -1
Came out firing. Hit free throws and three-pointers early, dropping 12 in the first, but was largely invisible the rest of the half. Knocked down two threes from the same corner spot in the third quarter. Without him, this team would’ve been God-unwatchable this past month. |
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Jordan Williams, F 20 MIN | 5-6 FG | 3-8 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 13 PTS | -8
Yes, he’s doing it in mostly garbage time. Yes, he’s got serious limitations. And yes, he can’t create his own shot. But Jordan Williams can absolutely give you 15-20 solid minutes in the paint. Please weight-train this offseason, Jordan. |
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Five Things We Saw
- You’ve heard this story before. The Nets can’t defend the paint, continually get lost on rotations with the slightest array of ball movement, and give up enough open looks at the rim to last most teams a month. Outside of a brief, wild spurt in the third quarter when everything clicked, this is the same old Nets, losing in the same old ways. No new identities here. I’m just hoping this is the best tank job ever, because if so, they’re killing it.
- This game started off ugly on both sides. In the first 12 minutes, the Nets and Jazz combined for 12 field goals and 12 turnovers, shooting 32% from the field. Loose balls were the name of the quarter. The Jazz turned it around in the second quarter, the Nets turned it around in the third, and the Jazz did it again in the fourth. Two good quarters is greater than one.
- At one point in the second quarter, Gordon Hayward rose over Gerald Wallace for an easy layup. The next play down, Gerald Wallace rose over everything and throw down his most ferocious dunk in a Nets uniform yet. Call it the Crash Smash.
- MVP: Al Jefferson & Paul Millsap. Both players attacked the lanes with fury tonight, using his feathery touch and knack for getting to the rim to score over and around everyone this evening. The two combined for 43 points on 19/28 shooting, with 21 rebounds and six assists. Both were so effective tonight, it’s impossible to choose one.
- LVP: Kris Humphries. Humphries had to check the Jazz big men tonight, which is undoubtedly a difficult assignment. But Humphries didn’t make a field goal and got torched defensively play after play. Every Nets big man is culpable in this one, but none more than Humphries.
