Nets Can't Come Back After VC 3
March 5, 2010
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Friday at the IZOD Center, the Nets lost to the Magic, 97-87. Orlando raced out to a 31-18 first-quarter lead behind forward Matt Barnes, who ripped off 14 of the first 20. Dwight Howard racked up 11 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks while limiting Brook Lopez to 10 points and 8 rebounds in the first 44 minutes. Devin Harris added 17 points and 10 assists for the Nets.
For the full recap, read Bob Considine's story on NBA.com: Click Here
Nets Can't Come Back After VC 3
Perhaps the biggest basket in this game was waived off. The Magic had raced out to a 32-18 lead against the Nets on Friday at the IZOD Center, spent the second quarter fending off the Nets’ bench to maintain a seven-point lead they quickly extended to 14 just two minutes after halftime.
Orlando forward Matt Barnes picked off a pass and raced downcourt, with only Brook Lopez to beat on the play. But the big man remained astride, blocking Barnes’ layup and causing it to roll off the rim. Upset at the non-call, Barnes argued his way into a technical.
Devin Harris hit the free throw, missed a three and raced out to a pair of fast-break layups, bringing the Nets within nine points. After three straight empty Orlando possessions, the clock ticked off 23 seconds of defensive intensity, the ball ending up in the hands of former Net Vince Carter. Anyone with a seat at the IZOD Center knew how this story would end:
Swish.
“We played who could make the tougher shot,” Harris said. “He sees the court very well. He does the things he’s capable of doing. It’s good to see him on a team like Orlando where his skills are being utilized and they need him doing what he’s doing at his best.”
Just ahead of the buzzer, just heartbreaking enough as everyone remembered what it was like when he did that for the Nets, and just another shot through the heart of a comeback destined to be too little, too late. Lead stretched to 12, Carter followed with another triple moments later, forcing a Nets timeout … during which the first three was waived off upon review.
But the swing’s trajectory had stalled. The Nets trailed by 15 at the quarter’s end, never getting closer than eight as they went on to lose, 97-87. Harris led the Nets with 17 points and 10 assists, but connected on only 7-of-21 shots. Lopez added 18 points and eight rebounds, but scored his only four baskets of the second half – three on long jumpers – in the final four minutes, with the game decided.
“Dwight was fighting to get good position and then Vince and Jameer (Nelson) would sit in my lap while I was trying to read the floor,” Lopez said. “It made it a bit tougher. I could only go right away or make a final decision because they were kind of bouncing in between, making it tough for me.”
Despite the off night, Lopez still ranks among the league’s best centers by any statistical measure, posting a nightly line of 19.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. And his development and upside are recognized throughout the league.
At this morning’s shootaround, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy had high praise for the second-year center:
“Look – I voted for him for the All-Star team. The (Nets’) record kept a lot of people from voting him. I think the guy is a hell of a player. I think he’s one of the top three or four centers in the NBA. There’s not a lot of true low-post centers in the league. He’s one of the stronger guys in the league. He’s a tough match up and a very good player. They have a very good inside presence.”
Defending the MVP
Courtney, on finding out there’s a stat that reasonably represents his defensive prowess:
“If that stat reflects good defense, then I like that. But if it’s above league average, let’s try to get it below that and I’ll be happy about that. A lot of the players at that two-three spot, any of those guys can go off for a good 40 points. So 18 over 40, I’ll take that.”
