NET NOTES
SEATTLE – For the Nets, in the first three games of the road trip that ended here last night against the Sonics, it was a case of “Ready . . . Set . . . Stall.”
That’s because their starts have been stumbles.
“Many times, the home team tries to get off to a quick start,” said coach Lawrence Frank. “You like to keep it to – our number is 22 – the opposing team scoring no more than 22.”
The Nets’ opponents averaged 25.7 points in the first quarter of the victories by the Jazz, Clippers and Blazers. Not drastically high, but the Nets only averaged 14.7 points (outscored 77-44). While opponents torched the Nets defense for .611 on first-quarter shooting (33-of-54), the Nets limped in at .340 (18-of-53).
“We’re getting off to slow starts and letting teams get confidence from the beginning,” said Cliff Robinson. “For us to win on a consistent basis, we have to play defense from the start, make teams understand it’s going to be tough for them to get points in the halfcourt, in transition.”
Said Jason Kidd, “On the road, we put ourselves in a bad position. We’ve got to find a way to get going early and give ourselves a chance and not have to fight all the way uphill.”
The result, of course, is disappointment.
“We thought coming out it was going to be a winnable trip,” Kidd said. “It hasn’t turned out that way.”