The Nuggets are coming to town tomorrow, bringing with them a prodigious offense that boasts top-10 ranks in PPG, field-goal percentage, three-point percentage and assists. Those combine with other factors to produce a No. 2 ranking in offensive efficiency (118.2 points per 100 possesions) while playing at the sixth-fastest pace.
"You can see they’re playing with a great sense of purpose, having tasted (success), having taken the Lakers as far as they did in the Western Conference Finals," said Nets coach Lawrence Frank. "Carmelo Anthony, he is doing it on both ends. There are some great clips of him in that Memphis game that were very, very impressive to me: working his tail off against Rudy Gay and then going right back and attacking him. And what he did against Portland in Portland – he’s playing at an unbelievably high level. Obviously, you know about their athleticism and their bigs and Chauncey Billups. J.R. Smith is still out, but they’re playing very good basketball."
Meanwhile, it's no secret the Nets have been struggling on offense: being on the receiving end of last night's 24-0 run highlighted the difficulties of replacing a scorer as dynamic as injured point guard Devin Harris, when there already exists a search for the traded Vince Carter's 20-plus. Their offensive efficiency of 91.9 ranks above only Charlotte.
But the players aren't hanging their heads. They want to win. The frustration is evident. They don't want to be asked the questions or give the answers, but they will. Because it's all they can do until the next time they step between the baselines.
"All of us have to contnue to pull each other along, and understand that whatever we’re doing, we’re doing it together," said point guard Rafer Alston. "We’re losing games together and we’ll continue to work and when we start to win, we’ll win together. But you can’t deviate, and go off on your own. We’ve got to keep plugging away at it. When you come in here with a workmanlike mindset, things will start to turn around."
Alston further indicated that he felt the frustrated mood showed that this was a team of players who care, and will work to correct what they can. The players spent the morning reviewing tape of the Bobcats game, beginning with what went right in the first half – ball movement, court flow, defense – before moving on to what stagnated in the second: the offense.
Coach Frank said that the major factor was going "one-and-done" rather than check down the second, third and fourth options on a given play, which he said the team had done well in its previous game (against the Wizards). Alston seemed to be thinking along similar lines, saying that when things start to bog down, the players shouldn't feel it necessary that they have to score on a given play.
To that point, he noted that prior to Monday's game, the team had seven players scoring in double-figures (Harris, Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Yi Jianlian and Alston).
That type of balanced effort will
be necessary as this young team continues to navigate a tough early-season schedule while riddled with injuries. Not the easiest situation to deal with, but one that offers hope for the long-term future.
"It’s an emotional game, it’s tough," Frank said. "You’re busting your chops and it’s hard to lose. (But) I’d much rather have to deal with that than guys not giving a heck. You can manage that and deal with that very honestly, rather than the other way. It’s hard to make guys care."
Yi's Injured Knee
Yi Jianlian underwent an MRI this morning after injuring his right knee in last night's game. Manhattan's Hospital for Special Surgery diagnosed a Grade 1 sprain of the medial collateral ligament, and there exists no timetable for his return. Coach Frank indicated Eduardo Najera would likely start in Yi's absence.
Competition Stayin' Alive at The 5
Sean Williams hit the floor for 11 minutes against the Bobcats, as Josh Boone took a DNP-CD. Expect their playing time to vary until one fully earns the coach's trust.
"Sean had a couple good days of work, (and I) wanted to give him a little reward for it," Frank said. "It could be game-to-game until someone takes it with really good play. And if someone takes it, then they have the job."
