Jason Kidd and Vince Carter deserve the headlines, but the Nets’ success in their final 25 games will largely come down to the supporting cast.
If you see double-digit scoring from a handful of other Nets each night, then the team might be diverse enough offensively to surge into the playoffs.
“If you look at before the All-Star break, we were playing very well and there was a direct correlation that other guys besides Jason or Vince were playing very well also,” said Jacque Vaughn, one of the smarter players in the NBA.
“I think it is huge for our team, because a lot of times not only does Jason take the bear of responsibility offensively, but defensively, like [Sunday] he’s guarding LeBron [James.] It takes other guys to step in, not only offensively, but defensively.”
Sunday, Travis Best stepped up to hit the game-sealing 3-pointer in the Nets’ 104-98 win over the Cavs. Best, who missed his previous six shots, wasn’t the only one to contribute. Nenad Krstic scored 15, Ron Mercer had 10 and Vaughn added nine. The Nets didn’t play a great game, but they got enough contributions to support their stars.
“That is important for our team because it is a huge load for those guys each night to bring in points,” Vaughn said. “We expect it, but we also know that they are human as well, so it is our job as professionals, as teammates, to bring our effort every night.”
The Cavs dared Carter’s and Kidd’s teammates to beat them by switching to a triangle and two, a risky move in the NBA. The zone held Cleveland’s comeback, but in the end the Nets stepped up.
“We all get a nice hefty paycheck so we have to earn our keep,” Vaughn said.
The third-place Nets are trying to earn a playoff berth. They are four games behind the Atlantic-leading Celtics. The Nets are off today before playing in Philly tomorrow. The 76ers are two games in front of the Nets.
Kidd, who reportedly has wanted out of the Meadowlands on a few occasions, said that he is confident in the role players who surround Carter and him.
“I believe in them as much as I believe in Vince,” Kidd said. “If you don’t believe in your supporting cast, you don’t have a chance.”
*
Bruce Ratner said yesterday that is more likely the Nets will move to Brooklyn in 2008-09.
“We still can get there by 2007-08, but I think ’08-’09 is more likely,” he said.
*
Nets spoke to representatives for Gary Payton about possibly signing with the team, league sources confirmed. However, Payton is expected to return to the Celtics after being waived by the Hawks.
Boston could offer him $1.6 million, while the Nets could only pay him the veteran minimum.
Fred Kerber contributed to this report.
—-
Support your Nets
As Nets continue to battle for Atlantic Division title, here’s how the per-game stats of Jason Kidd and Vince Carter compare to those of their supporting cast:
Player Ast. FGs FTs Rebs PPG
Jason Kidd 8.0 39.8 76.1 7.0 14.1
Vince Carter 4.7 45.0 78.4 4.0 22.3
Travis Best 1.9 41.8 91.6 1.2 6.9
Rodney Buford 1.2 40.5 82.9 3.7 8.8
Jason Collins 1.2 41.8 68.8 6.2 6.7
Nenad Krstic 0.9 46.9 71.0 4.7 8.4
Ron Mercer 1.3 40.8 75.0 2.5 7.7
Cliff Robinson 1.0 27.8 62.5 4.2 8.3
Jacque Vaughn 1.8 44.2 86.6 1.5 4.7
