Well, in the pregame thread, I said that if the Nets let the Kings get going early, they were going to lose the game. I hate to toot my own horn, especially in a loss, but that is exactly what happened. The Nets gave up 33 points in the first quarter and let them shoot 60% from the floor. The Kings remained hot for the entire game, shooting 54.9% from the floor for the entire game. They were also 50% from three, hitting big ones anytime the Nets got close.
- Looking at the stats, it shouldn’t have been as close as it was, but the Nets took care of the ball 11 turnovers while forcing 15.
- 1st half Nets were outscored by 17. They outscored the Kings by 4 in the second half, but dug themselves in a way too big of a hole.
- Brook had another big night, going for 24 and 11.
- CDR had a nice night as well, going for 21 and 8.
- In the second half, Devin Harris started to regain his All-Star form. Though he is still getting a feel for finishing in traffic (it will come), he was able to get into the lane and draw fouls. He shot only 6-22, but got to the line 17 times and that is the reason he got 25 points.
- Josh Boone played well too, going for 10 points and 7 rebounds.
- In the first half, the Kings killed the Nets on the boards out rebounding them 27-11. The reason? It might have had something to do with the Nets’ PFs logging only 11 minutes combined in the first half. Against the Kings’ large front line, Hassell was playing the PF spot. Frank stuck with the small lineup way too long, but give him credit, he did make the adjustment, and played Boone for most of the second half. The Nets responded by winning the 2nd half rebounding battle 28 to 18.
- Beno Udrih wasn’t supposed to play and I really wish he hadn’t. He came off the bench for 21 points, including three or four big shots after the Nets got the lead down to 6 a few times in the fourth.
- Courtney Lee really must not be even close to 100%. 10 minutes last game, and 3 tonight.
