Game 3

New Nets Need to Step Up for New Jersey to Succeed
By Filip Podkanski
With Jason Kidd out for who knows how long and Lucious Harris waived for who knows what reason, New Jerseys chances of even making the playoffs seem like a fantasy. Unless the two new acquired Nets step up and take a load off Jeffersons shoulders. The Nets have just recentley signed Marcus Fizer and Travis Best to fill in some weak roster spots. Fizer will definitley be an upgrade over Scalabrine but Best will probably never help the team as much as Kidd can. But the thing is, the Nets are not a bad team, are their new players had their seasons where they played amazing but are now on the decline. However, if everybody on the team can step up and take defenders away from Jefferson the Nets may just be able to make the playoffs.
Game 3
New Jersey At Washington
The Nets are playing without Jason Kidd and Lucious Harris but filled in a weak spot at power forward by signing Marcus Fizer. Tonight the Nets will be showing off some new talent as they fly west to take on the Washington Wizards.
Starting Line-Ups:
Washington:
C - Brendan Haywood
PF - Kwame Brown
SF - Antawn Jamison
SG - Larry Hughes
PG - Gilbert Arenas
New Jersey:
C - Jason Collins
PF - Marcus Fizer
SF - Richard Jefferson
SG - Ron Mercer
PG - Travis Best
Keys to Success:
Nets:
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Take the Ball Hard to the Hoop: This has been a key for the Nets every game so far but with even worse three-point shooters on the team now you basically don't have much of a choice.
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Take away Jamisons Drive: Jamison is one of the best in the league at getting to the line, make sure his defender always has help on the weak side to prevent him for driving.
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Don't Give Arenas Any Space: The past two games Arenas has been sinking threes well beyond three point range with consistency, always keep an eye on him and resist the urge to double team.
Wizards:
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Post up the Nets Smaller Guards: With Best now starting at point guard, use your strenght to your advantage. Take Best down low and post him up.
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Keep all Eyes on Jefferson: Always make Jefferson your main priority to guard until his teammates start making shots.
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Pack the Lane as Much as Possible: The Nets are now most likely the worst shooting long range shooting team in the league but have a lot of guys who can drive hard to the basket, pack the lane and use your shot blockers as much as possible.
1st Quarter
This game was an all out battle between Jefferson and Jamison, and although Arenas got player of the game these two were always up in eachothers faces and battling it out for every lose ball. Fizer played well in this quarter and Travis Best put up 4 assists. After the first the Wizards lead 26-21.
Fizer blew past Kwame Brown a couple of times going into the second quarter with 6 points and 3 rebounds.
Fizer was told he would have to step up his play to remain a starter, here he shows how bad he wants it dunking through traffic and drawing the foul.
Jamison and Jefferson were in eachother faces all game long.
2nd Quarter
In this quarter Jefferson and Jamison continued to battle it out but other players also got involved. Arenas was on fire from downtown and Best and Mercer showed their Midrange games were fine, taking some pressure of off Jefferson. The Wizards lead 53-50 after two.
Arenas had more than half his points from long range in this game.
Best struggled from outside but his midrange game really helped the Nets.
Mercer also showed he can make shots from 18 feet.
Jamison blows past Jefferson and throws it down uncontested.
But Jefferson answers right back throwing it down and drawing a foul.
3rd Quarter
This quarter was all about Gilbert Arenas and Marcus Fizer, oh, and Jamison and Jefferson too. Arenas had 5 assists in this quarter and Fizer tallied 8 points. Arenas also had 11 points in this quarter and Jefferson and Jamison put up 6 each. Going into the fourth the Wizards lead 79-74.
Arenas dishes a no look pass to Haywood for 1 of his 5 assists in the quarter.
Arenas throws it up for Jamison and he finishes with style.
Despite leading the game in assists, Arenas can also score.
Fizer was a huge improvement in the paint over Scalabrine.
Fizer also rebounded very well, here he gets a huge putback dunk off the Buford miss.
4th Quarter
The only new story in this quarter was Jason Collins. Collins struggled all night long until the beginning of the fourth. In the fourth Collins put up 8 points and 6 boards leading the team in rebounds. But despite Jefferson outscoring Jamison and Collins and Fizers efforts, in the end, Arenas blew up from downtown helping the Wizards to a 104-96 victory and earning player of the game honours.
Despite Collins best game this season the Nets still came up short.
Arenas was unstoppable from downtown, constantly draining shots well beyond the three point mark
Jefferson and Jamison put up almost the same numbers but had to fight hard against eachother to get them.
Game Recap:
Box Score
Nets
Starting 5:
C - Jason Collins - 15 points, 11 rebounds
PF - Marcus Fizer - 14 points, 7 rebounds
SF - Richard Jefferson - 29 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists
SG - Ron Mercer - 12 points
PG - Travis Best - 11 points, 8 assists
Other Notables:
C - Aaron Williams - 9 rebounds, 3 blocks
Wizards:
C - Brendan Haywood - 4 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
PF - Kwame Brown - 13 points, 11 rebounds
SF - Antawn Jamison - 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
SG - Larry Hughes - 9 points, 4 assists
PG - Gilbert Arenas - 31 points (6-11 3 point FG), 11 assists
Other notables:
PG - Steve Blake - 11 points, 8 assists
Player of the Game
Gilbert Arenas
Points: 31
Assists: 11
Rebounds: 4
Minutes: 32
FG: 11-21
FT: 3/3
3 PT FG: 6-11
Arenas continued to do what he did best throught his previous two games. He now has lead the Wizards to a 3-0 start.
Next Game: Houston Rockets (3-1) vs New Jersey Nets (1-2):
The Nets are at home against Houston as they try to snap a two game losing streak but have to do it against one of the best one-two punch combos in Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.
