Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Nenad Krstic and Marcus Williams weren't even in the building. Sean Williams was here, but was benched for coming 15 minutes late for shootaround.
Disclaimer: It's hard to tell how good (or bad) the Nets are or will be when they were without their four best players.
They looked good early and bad late, and then good again in their preseason opener.
The Nets nearly lost after leading by 20 points with eight minutes left in the third period. But Bostjan Nachbar kept attacking and led them to the 91-90 overtime win with 35 points, including the game-tying dunk with 4.3 seconds left in regulation and winning foul shots with 8.8 seconds to go in OT.
Anyway, some observations and other commentary:
** Nachbar's good play in camp continued. He started and started fast Friday, going to the basket and hitting from the outside. Nachbar scored the Nets' first nine points and 13 in the first eight minutes, leading them to a 19-6 advantage. He ended the game hitting four of his last five shots and scored 11 of the Nets' 13 OT points.
** Nachbar's two foul shots in OT came on a hard drive and hard foul by rookie Jason Smith. Nachbar was down for a little bit, but that was because Smith was laying on him, rolling his shoulders, so Boki gave him a little nudge. Each was hit with a tech, but it never escalated.
** The second most impressive player for the Nets was Josh Boone. He was active inside and finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. He's still struggling from the line, though. He was 5-for-10 on free throws.
** Antoine Wright had many open shots that he didn't knock down, but canned a big three late in regulation. He wound up 5-for-15 with 17 points.
** Malik Allen had some good moments, scoring six and pulling down four boards in 20 minutes. He also drew a charge.
** Jamaal Magloire was unimpressive and didn't look much like a beast with four points and five rebounds in 17 minutes.
** Louis Williams killed the Nets, scoring 18 points in the fourth, many against Darrell Armstrong. Williams had a chance to win the game in regulation, but his three at the buzzer rim in and out.
** While Sean Williams, the player the Nets used the No. 17 pick on, sat for disciplinary reasons, Smith, the former Colorado State center that was on their radar, made an impact for the Sixers. The 7-footer, taken three picks later by Miami and eventually traded to Philly, blocked Wright's dunk try 23 seconds after entering the game. Smith also denied a Robert Hite layup and Rod Benson chippie. Smith had 11 points and four blocks and scored on a turnaround 10-footer with 13.8 seconds left in OT to give the Sixers a 90-89 lead.
** Mile Ilic was the only Net who didn't play. If the Nets are trying to trade him, it could help if he got some run to up his value, unless they don't think it will help.
Boki's THE MAN!!
Boone needs to keep up his strong play.
Same old, same old with Wright. Some things never change.
Too little Rod Benson.
Great start, Sean!!
Posted by: Newark Hawk | October 13, 2007 at 01:02 PM