NETS HOPING FOR MIRACLE
They live.
But only if you want to consider being 3½ games out, four in the loss column, with seven to play as living for the Nets.
“I don’t care. We’re in it,” insisted Vince Carter. “We still have an opportunity. I don’t care what the percentage is. We’ve got to think positive.”
Right and let’s start readying our letters to Santa while we’re at it.
The Nets’ playoff hopes are alive only through the power of mathematics and the magic of imagination after they suffered their third straight defeat, this one by a 108-99 count to the Philadelphia 76ers, who had three players achieve double-doubles last night in the Meadowlands.
With 4-of-5 games awaiting on the road, where they have been awful, the Nets dropped 3½ games behind eighth-place Atlanta for the final playoff spot. At 31-44, the Nets are in 10th place, a half-game behind Indiana, and face a tragic number of five for playoff elimination. Any combo of Net losses and Hawk wins equaling five stamps a passport to the lottery for the Nets, now a season-high 13 games under .500.
“Until we get eliminated, you got to stay optimistic. You got to keep fighting hard. You can’t get down,” said Richard Jefferson (14 points).
“It hurts,” said Bostjan Nachbar. “From now our schedule is only going to get tougher.”
Not quite living the high life, huh?
“How far out are we? Three and a half?” asked Josh Boone when it was proposed that writing the Net obituary is legit. “And we gotta play in Detroit and in Boston? Makes sense.”
Let’s not overlook those games in Cleveland and Toronto for the Nets, who got 29 points from Carter, 22 from Devin Harris.
“We’re very disappointed and down,” said coach Lawrence Frank, who bemoaned the Nets’ defense, 16 turnovers that led to 26 Sixer points and a 29-13 free throw disparity that saw the Nets shoot their first free throws at 5:18 of the third quarter. “It’s just hard to fathom that you can attack the paint and not shoot a free throw for three quarters of an NBA game.”
This started encouragingly, ended disastrously for the Nets. They made their first 10 shots, but were outscored 15-8 in the final 3:46 as Philly (38-37) pulled away from a 93-91 lead – Louis Williams played a big part with seven straight Sixer points in 79 seconds.
Don’t forget the others. Andre Miller (24 points, 11 assists), Andre Iguodala (17 points, 10 assists) and Samuel Dalembert (15 points, 13 rebounds – and five blocks), who terrorized inside, killed the Nets all night. Williams’ run, around a Boone dunk and before two Carter turnovers, put the Sixers up, 100-93. Game.
There was no questioning Net effort. Execution, yes. Effort, no. Bottom line, another stinging loss.
“It’s frustrating,” said Jefferson. “Again, this is an odd year. We made a major trade middle of the season. We have a different team, a different dynamic.”
And still no realistic shot at their seventh straight playoff appearance.
