Establishing Home

Let’s take a break from praising Devin Harris at least for a few graphs and talk about the Nets as a whole.

This is a big week for them, and I get the idea that they know it. They can’t come home off of that trip and not show up against the Wizards or Timberwolves. The Nets have to establish home because to this point they’ve been better on the road.

The Nets are 6-3 away and 3-4 at home. They’re minus-40 in points at home compared to a plus-one in points on the road. Why?

“I don’t know,” Vince Carter said. “I think it’s more the opportunity and situation. Of course, on the road it’s given us a chance to bond even more, just to come together and learn more about ourselves. But I think it’s just the situation.

“Right now we’re just letting it all hang out. We’re playing with a lot of confidence. We’re playing for each other and we’re having a lot of fun doing it. I more so think it’s just because of where we are as a team right now – our comfort level.”

I’m sure someone will say the Nets are better on the road because they have no home-court advantage, that they have few fans and it’s easy to get up when the crowd is screaming on the road. I don’t believe that because the first win of the trip came in Sacramento where as many fans were cheering for Ryan Anderson as the Kings.

No matter, if they’re going to really be considered a good team they have to establish home.

Tonight starts a stretch where the Nets play 10-of-15 at home and eight of those games in Izod are against teams with worse records currently than New Jersey. They have to play with passion and urgency and not get out-worked – basically play the way they do on the road - so they can take advantage of this month.

“It’s very important,” Harris said. “A young team, usually you get better in the games at home. I think we’re definitely capable, but we’ve got to keep the focus. On the road we’ve been battling some injuries and what not, but he we should definitely be able to run a little bit more and get some easy baskets, I think.”

***
The result of the MRI on Josh Boone’s left ankle was negative – no structural damage. It means they can continue to be more aggressive with the treatment, coach Lawrence Frank said.

“It’s good news,” Frank said. “It’s just going to come down to when his body’s ready. It’s just positive that it was negative.”

Boone, Eduardo Najera (back) and likely Maurice Ager (sick) are out tonight.

Najera doesn’t know when he’ll be able to return. He said his back feels much better, but he’s still not ready.

“I’ve got to be careful with it,” Najera said. “I don’t want to go back to the way it was. At the same time I have to start getting in shape, that’s what I feel right now.”

“Now I’m to the point where I’m don’t feel any pain so I can do some running and do all that stuff.”

So what did he do while the Nets were out West?

“Lay down,” Najera said. “Lay down and watch the games and enjoy the great road victories that we had. That was it.”

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Now back to Harris’ great play: he’s the first Net to win Player of the Week honors since Jason Kidd did it March of 2007.
 
Carter had a pretty good answer about Harris’ slow start to the season and where he is now:

“He’s confident,” Carter said. “He feels good about his game. He’s been working on his game and it’s paying off. It was a slow start not only for him but for our team. A lot of variables are happening. Yeah, he’s getting to the basket and scoring big numbers, but also with Brook [Lopez] being as effective when the big guy steps over you kind of have to worry about this big 7-footer who can score as well. There’s a lot going into it.

“I have to play well where am I going to leave him and put him an island? Now teams are having to make decisions because you have a lot going on, a lot of guys who can do a lot of things. A lot of things are working for us and we feel confident – everybody understanding their role and knowing where to be really makes the whole puzzle work and has led to success for not only Devin but for our team.”

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Another thing on Harris, he’s hosting a shopping event in the Men’s Department at Bloomingdale’s in the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne on Thursday from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Ten percent of the proceeds from purchases made in the Men’s Department (Men’s Sportswear) or the Kid’s Department (BKids) throughout the day will benefit Harris’ foundation, 34 Ways to Assist.

Also, any fan who purchases $750 or more in the Men’s Department that day will receive a voucher for two tickets to an upcoming Nets home game.

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One last thing: an action photo of Harris is featured on a billboard above ESPNZone on 42nd and Broadway and I must admit - Nets CEO Brett Yormark's quote featured in the release was pretty good.

"Devin has shown throughout the season that he knows how to play in traffic and there's no busier area than Times Square," Yormark said. "It's no surprise to see him rise above the crowd and we encourage New York basketball fans to be part of our crowd only 15 minutes away."

Nice touch.