The Nets’ defense has been one part sieve, one part Ghandi passive resistance, one part Swiss cheese, all parts bad.
The two All-Stars, Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, have missed five straight games; the Nets have lost four, snuffing only the mighty Bulls by three points.
Neither Kidd nor Martin will be back from their left-knee injuries tonight when the Nets try to exact revenge against the Celtics for a Friday defeat in Boston. The offense has been inconsistent, too, so teams suddenly see the seven spot in the playoffs as not such a bad place if it means facing the hurting Nets. Is nothing going right in New Jersey?
Actually, yes.
Richard Jefferson.
“Richard has raised his level. You continue to see it. Every game, he grows in front of your eyes, not only good playing skills, but he is establishing good leadership skills,” said coach Lawrence Frank. “He is going to continue to improve, he has a passion for the game, he loves to play and works at it. He is reaping the rewards.”
Conversely, Jefferson has rewarded the Nets in their games without Kidd and Martin. He’s done it in ways beyond his scoring (26.0 ppg, including a season-high 35 Saturday in a 107-104 defeat to the LeBron James-led Cavs); beyond his rebounding (6.6 per) or assists (6.2) or shooting (.495). There have been instances where he has directed, talked, and led on the floor. Like Saturday, when Jefferson often went to the likes of Brandon Armstrong to give in-game pointers.
“Brandon is a good friend and he’s getting better, he still has that ‘come-in-and-try-to-prove-something’ mode,” Jefferson explained. “Coach is going to yell at him, so I’m going to joke with him. When the coaches are praising him, I’m yelling at him.”
Jefferson knows that when Kidd returns – which would not be before the playoffs by all accounts – and Martin comes back – probably no later than Friday, if not sooner – the on-court leadership role goes back to the All-Stars. But it doesn’t hurt any team to have three guys who can guide, direct and earn respect. All that stuff is nice, but Jefferson wants W’s.
The wins aren’t coming with the Nets surrendering .460 shooting (185-of-402) and 94.0 points per, as they’ve done in the last five games.
“We’re missing assignments. We let people get in our lane. We don’t really have that shot-blocking presence,” explained Jefferson of the defensive failures. “When you don’t have the inside threat, you have to contain the dribble better and we haven’t been doing that.”