The Nets Devin Harris used the Pistons and Allen Iverson’s (24 pts, 6 asts, 4 TO) first showing to stage a career night for himself scoring 38 leading the Nets over the Pistons. {box score}
It started out well enough with Allen Iverson assisting backcourt mate Richard Hamilton for the Pistons first bucket.
The Pistons played pretty well for most of the first half of this game. They grabbed an early 14 point lead with Michael Curry deploying an Iverson / Hamilton / Stuckey 3-guard lineup helping the Pistons to a 10-2 first quarter fast break point advantage. To top it off A.I. didn’t miss a shot from anywhere in the first half.
But again the Pistons had a hard time playing with a lead and their early 14 point cushion had been whittled down to just 5 by half time. This is a problem.
The Pistons defensive game plan was to double and limit Vince Carter who had clearly been the Nets biggest offensive threat coming into the game. That worked to a certain extent with Carter scoring 18 on 7/20 shooting but Vince did a good job of getting his teammates involved leading the game in assists with 7.
Then there was Devin frick’n Harris. When Devin isn’t getting schooled by noname british street ballers he enjoys lighting up the Detroit Pistons. I’m sure the scouting report didn’t mention anything about trying to keep Harris from going for 40. Harris erupted for a 19 point third quarter when he discovered none of the Pistons could stay in front of him without fouling. Devin scored 13 of those 19 points from the free throw line. Harris’ career high 38 points came with only 15 field goal attempts, as he wore the paint off the charity stripe with 24 free throw attempts converting on 20 of them. The 24 attempts ties a Nets single-game record held by Carter (2005) and John Williamson (1978). The Nets as a unit cashed in on 30 of their 36 free throws attempts.
Another thing that contributed to the Pistons first loss was the Nets zone defense which turned us into a jump shooting squad because we couldn’t bust it. The Nets outscored the Pistons in the paint 48-26.
The Pistons couldn’t seem to keep the Nets off the glass especially when they tried to make runs in the 4th. The Nets Josh Boone looked like Hakeen Olajuwon out there scoring 18 and grabbing 14 boards, 5 offensive. The all important board war was lost 44-50.
Richard Hamilton scored 22 points, while Tay added 19 points (4/15 shooting) and 11 rebounds.
The Pistons have the potential with Iverson to be a real dangerous offensive team but to be championship caliber again the defense has to be equally as deadly and right now it’s not.
GAME NOTES: Rasheed picked up his second tech on the year with a very demonstrative and profanity laced tirade in the 3rd … Chauncey scored 15 in his debut as the Nuggets beat the Mavs 108-105, Samb DNP … Jerry Sloan wins his 1,000th game … Rasheed gives teammates Obama shirts … Rap mogul and Nets part owner Jaz-Z took in the game courtside … This game ended a seven game losing streak to the Pistons for New Jersey …3QC: Magic should talk to McDyess …
The Pistons are putting their potential playoff opponents on notice, the message: we have depth.
