The Chicago Bulls: When you absolutely, positively need a win, accept no substitute.
And did the Nets ever need this one. Coming off a pair of shoddy losses to Orlando and Memphis, Byron Scott’s club was mired in a post-All-Star break hangover that had the coach worrying about complacency, warning of potential changes and challenging his players to reclaim their sense of urgency.
That’s where the schedule-makers came in, providing Scott with a handy, built-in remedy – 12 visitors from the Windy City.
One 90-72 victory later, problems solved. At least for now.
“This was a game that could have kept going in the wrong direction or got things going in the right direction,” said Jason Kidd (just six points on 2-of-11 shooting, but 12 assists). “I think we got things going back in the right direction.”
Even without Kenyon Martin, the Nets found that direction. The 6-9 forward missed his first game of the season with a sore left knee. It’s an injury that isn’t considered serious; Martin could be back in the lineup tomorrow against Philly. But his absence allowed other Nets to shine.
Kerry Kittles poured in a game-high 21 points, going 10-for-18 from the field, thanks mostly to a collection of fast-break layups and mid-range jumpers.
Richard Jefferson added 20, driving with reckless abandon en route to 13 free throw attempts (he made 10 to offset a 5-for-14 night from the field). He also scored 10 of his points during a 21-9 run that opened the third quarter and turned a nervous 10-point lead into a 22-point let’s-beat-the-traffic cushion.
And don’t forget the backups. Lucious Harris chipped in 13 points off the bench, while Rodney Rogers returned from his strained left calf to rack up eight points and a season-high 11 boards in his first action since Jan. 21.
“I’m just trying to get back my court awareness and get back into the thick of things with the guys,” Rogers said.
Even Martin’s replacement, Brian Scalabrine, continued his workmanlike play, stepping into the starting five and delivering eight points, six boards and an alley-oop pass to Kidd.
It was just what the coach ordered. In his shootaround speech, Scott had threatened benchings and rotation changes in order to spark his lackluster team.
“Either we’re going to play very hard on the defensive end, we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to be tough, we’re going to rebound the ball, we’re going to defend individually, we’re going to defend as a team, or come sit down,” he said. “I just need five guys that want to do that.”
He found more than that. Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day” like a visit from the team in red (a league-worst 2-27 away from Chicago). Like good hosts, the Nets (a league-best 23-2 at home) took advantage defensively.
They forced 17 Bulls turnovers in the first half alone and held them to a measly 33-percent shooting for the game. At halftime, Chicago center Tyson Chandler had more turnovers (four) than field goals (one) and rebounds (two) COMBINED.
“That’s what we’re supposed to do each and every night,” Scott said. “That’s the way we’re supposed to play defense.”
Was it perfect? Not by a long shot. A 25-point lead was whittled to 16 early in the fourth and Scott actually brought Kidd and Kittles back off the bench to put the game out of reach. And Scott also was quick to say that the defense isn’t cured quite yet. Neither, of course, is the team.
But at least it’s headed in the right direction.