Nets 87 Cavaliers 84
For the Nets in the early days of this season, the focus has shifted from it usual perspective. Drastically shifted.
For years, concentration usually centered on matters such as avoiding embarrassment, finding reasonable insurance carriers and determining just how long a shattered fibula sidelines a player. Now the attention has been altered.
“It’s all about winning,” insisted coach Byron Scott.
Strange words from the Net camp but in these early weeks, winning means getting the proper combination on the court and – just like yesterday – getting the ball in Jason Kidd’s hands with the game on the line.
Kidd again rose in the clutch, scoring seven of his 10 points in the final 2:17. And so the Nets, withstanding a final-second 3-pointer, ran their record to 5-1 for the best six-game start in their NBA history with an 87-84 victory against Cleveland in front of just 5,631 in a near-empty Meadowlands.
“For 46 minutes, we had [Kidd] under control and in the last two minutes he picked it up and made a difference in the game. That’s the sign of a great player,” said the Cavs’ Wesley Person whose right-side trifecta try at the buzzer found the front rim.
The Nets, with Kenyon Martin’s 18 points and 17 from Kerry Kittles leading the four of five starters who hit double figures, threatened to pull away throughout the game, leading by a dozen in the third quarter. But the Cavs, who got a career-high 20 points from Chris Mihm plus 19 points and 14 assists from Andre Miller, obviously were unimpressed with recent Nets success. They wouldn’t go away.
And then the Nets that so many have gotten to know, love and laugh at showed up: From late in the third quarter to 7:22 of the fourth, they missed 11 straight shots, hit 1-of-14. After a Nets flurry restored a 78-72 lead, more futility ensued and the Nets missed five more shots, three of them by Keith Van Horn (16 points, 10 rebounds but six turnovers and 3-of-14 shooting). When 21-point scorer Lamond Murray went to the line at 2:35 for two free throws that would put Cleveland up, 80-78, Scott yanked Van Horn.
“It has nothing to do with making this guy or that feel good,” Scott said, explaining he wanted either Martin of rookie Richard Jefferson guarding Murray.
“I was pressing. My legs weren’t in this game. I think I left them at home. They felt terrible. I had good shots. They went small so Byron made a good decision,” Van Horn said.
An even better one was to start looking for Kidd. When the Cavs dropped into a zone, Kidd banged home a 3-pointer at 2:17 and the Nets never trailed again. After Martin backed down Rickey Davis for a score and Miller made one free throw the other away, Kidd again struck, curling around a screen by Todd MacCulloch (9 points, 10 boards) for the back breaker at :29. Kidd added two FTs at :13.4 after Murray canned a three for Cleveland.
“We didn’t play our ‘A’ game. We just didn’t shoot the ball well (.391) but a win’s a win in this league,” said Kidd who had seven rebounds and a season low four assists. “I’m glad we’re 5-1 but it’s not because of me.”
Just mostly because of him.
