Dallas-Mavs.com Forums - View Single Post

skylive321 · 02-13-2008, 11:23 AM

Nets keep T-Wolves at bay
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Last Updated Wednesday February 13, 2008, EST 10:03 AM
BY AL IANNAZZONE
STAFF WRITER
Email this story Printer friendly version

EAST RUTHERFORD – As Jason Kidd was trying to record his 100th career triple-double, his agent and Nets' special assistant Kiki Vandeweghe were engaged in a conversation just off the court.

Both men found their seats – there were plenty available -- in time to witness Kidd come one point and one assist shy of joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only players with at least 100 triple-doubles.

They also saw the Nets win their third straight game, a 92-88 defeat of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at Izod Center, which was less than half-full because of the wintry weather and the teams' combined 68 losses before this result.

The Nets (23-29) started to get separation late in the third quarter with an active group that featured Kidd, Sean Williams, Josh Boone, Bostjan Nachbar and Antoine Wright.

During one stretch, the Nets, who play their final game before the All-Star break tonight in Toronto, had three straight three-point opportunities, as Nachbar twice and Williams once scored inside on Kidd feeds.

"Those guys changed the game," coach Lawrence Frank said. "They got us going. We were stale."

Last month in Minnesota, the Nets blew a seven-point lead in the final 1:19 and allowed the Timberwolves to score the final 10 points. The Nets bent this time against Minnesota (10-40), letting a 12-point lead dip to four with 2:25 left. But they didn't break and moved into seventh place in the East.

After Kidd drained a three with 2:02 left to put the Nets ahead, 85-78, it didn't get closer than five until Randy Foye's three with 1.6 to go for the game's final points.

In what could be Kidd's last home game as a Net, he finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and didn't speak afterward.

The conversation between Vandeweghe and agent Jeff Schwartz started at halftime and continued through the start of the third. After the roughly 20-minute chat, Vandeweghe said the Nets were no closer to moving their best player.

This was the second straight game Vandeweghe met with someone who is very much involved in Kidd's potential future whereabouts.

Before the Nets played Dallas – the top team on Kidd's wish list -- on Sunday, Vandeweghe sat under one basket with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. They worked together in Dallas and said they were catching up.

It's doubtful Vandeweghe and Schwartz were talking just about their families. Schwartz is trying to help get Kidd to the Mavericks, but as of now they haven't agreed on anything. It may require a third team for something to get done by the Feb. 21 trade deadline.

"There is nothing on the horizon right now," team president Rod Thorn said. "But that could change."

Vince Carter's 17 points and 10 assists paced the Nets. Nachbar had 14 points, and Richard Jefferson, who fought through a stomach virus and was given half a bag of intravenous fluid before the game, had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

A big factor in the win was limiting Minnesota big man Al Jefferson, who had 40 points and 19 rebounds against the Nets last month. Jefferson was held to 16 and 11 Tuesday.

"Every time he caught it we doubled him," Frank said. "It really was a team commitment because we didn't want to leave anyone there one-on-one. I think our guys did a very good job of ... disrupting his rhythm."

Minnesota was in the Nets' shoes, but waited until the off-season to trade its marquee player. The Timberwolves sent Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, two first-round picks and cash.

The Nets, who may decide to try to move Kidd over the summer, probably would make a deal like that if they found one.

E-mail: iannazzone@northjersey.com

EAST RUTHERFORD – As Jason Kidd was trying to record his 100th career triple-double, his agent and Nets' special assistant Kiki Vandeweghe were engaged in a conversation just off the court.

Both men found their seats – there were plenty available -- in time to witness Kidd come one point and one assist shy of joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only players with at least 100 triple-doubles.

They also saw the Nets win their third straight game, a 92-88 defeat of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at Izod Center, which was less than half-full because of the wintry weather and the teams' combined 68 losses before this result.
IN THE 'ZZONE

The Record's AL IANNAZZONE with all your New Jersey Nets news and inside stories, up close and personal.

Visit the blog

The Nets (23-29) started to get separation late in the third quarter with an active group that featured Kidd, Sean Williams, Josh Boone, Bostjan Nachbar and Antoine Wright.

During one stretch, the Nets, who play their final game before the All-Star break tonight in Toronto, had three straight three-point opportunities, as Nachbar twice and Williams once scored inside on Kidd feeds.

"Those guys changed the game," coach Lawrence Frank said. "They got us going. We were stale."

Last month in Minnesota, the Nets blew a seven-point lead in the final 1:19 and allowed the Timberwolves to score the final 10 points. The Nets bent this time against Minnesota (10-40), letting a 12-point lead dip to four with 2:25 left. But they didn't break and moved into seventh place in the East.

After Kidd drained a three with 2:02 left to put the Nets ahead, 85-78, it didn't get closer than five until Randy Foye's three with 1.6 to go for the game's final points.

In what could be Kidd's last home game as a Net, he finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and didn't speak afterward.

The conversation between Vandeweghe and agent Jeff Schwartz started at halftime and continued through the start of the third. After the roughly 20-minute chat, Vandeweghe said the Nets were no closer to moving their best player.

This was the second straight game Vandeweghe met with someone who is very much involved in Kidd's potential future whereabouts.

Before the Nets played Dallas – the top team on Kidd's wish list -- on Sunday, Vandeweghe sat under one basket with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. They worked together in Dallas and said they were catching up.

It's doubtful Vandeweghe and Schwartz were talking just about their families. Schwartz is trying to help get Kidd to the Mavericks, but as of now they haven't agreed on anything. It may require a third team for something to get done by the Feb. 21 trade deadline.

"There is nothing on the horizon right now," team president Rod Thorn said. "But that could change."

Vince Carter's 17 points and 10 assists paced the Nets. Nachbar had 14 points, and Richard Jefferson, who fought through a stomach virus and was given half a bag of intravenous fluid before the game, had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

A big factor in the win was limiting Minnesota big man Al Jefferson, who had 40 points and 19 rebounds against the Nets last month. Jefferson was held to 16 and 11 Tuesday.

"Every time he caught it we doubled him," Frank said. "It really was a team commitment because we didn't want to leave anyone there one-on-one. I think our guys did a very good job of ... disrupting his rhythm."

Minnesota was in the Nets' shoes, but waited until the off-season to trade its marquee player. The Timberwolves sent Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, two first-round picks and cash.

The Nets, who may decide to try to move Kidd over the summer, probably would make a deal like that if they found one.

02-13-2008, 11:23 AM	#497
skylive321 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Big Beaver Lick, Kentucky Posts: 349	Nets keep T-Wolves at bay Wednesday, February 13, 2008 Last Updated Wednesday February 13, 2008, EST 10:03 AM BY AL IANNAZZONE STAFF WRITER Email this story Printer friendly version EAST RUTHERFORD – As Jason Kidd was trying to record his 100th career triple-double, his agent and Nets' special assistant Kiki Vandeweghe were engaged in a conversation just off the court. Both men found their seats – there were plenty available -- in time to witness Kidd come one point and one assist shy of joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only players with at least 100 triple-doubles. They also saw the Nets win their third straight game, a 92-88 defeat of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at Izod Center, which was less than half-full because of the wintry weather and the teams' combined 68 losses before this result. The Nets (23-29) started to get separation late in the third quarter with an active group that featured Kidd, Sean Williams, Josh Boone, Bostjan Nachbar and Antoine Wright. During one stretch, the Nets, who play their final game before the All-Star break tonight in Toronto, had three straight three-point opportunities, as Nachbar twice and Williams once scored inside on Kidd feeds. "Those guys changed the game," coach Lawrence Frank said. "They got us going. We were stale." Last month in Minnesota, the Nets blew a seven-point lead in the final 1:19 and allowed the Timberwolves to score the final 10 points. The Nets bent this time against Minnesota (10-40), letting a 12-point lead dip to four with 2:25 left. But they didn't break and moved into seventh place in the East. After Kidd drained a three with 2:02 left to put the Nets ahead, 85-78, it didn't get closer than five until Randy Foye's three with 1.6 to go for the game's final points. In what could be Kidd's last home game as a Net, he finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and didn't speak afterward. The conversation between Vandeweghe and agent Jeff Schwartz started at halftime and continued through the start of the third. After the roughly 20-minute chat, Vandeweghe said the Nets were no closer to moving their best player. This was the second straight game Vandeweghe met with someone who is very much involved in Kidd's potential future whereabouts. Before the Nets played Dallas – the top team on Kidd's wish list -- on Sunday, Vandeweghe sat under one basket with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. They worked together in Dallas and said they were catching up. It's doubtful Vandeweghe and Schwartz were talking just about their families. Schwartz is trying to help get Kidd to the Mavericks, but as of now they haven't agreed on anything. It may require a third team for something to get done by the Feb. 21 trade deadline. "There is nothing on the horizon right now," team president Rod Thorn said. "But that could change." Vince Carter's 17 points and 10 assists paced the Nets. Nachbar had 14 points, and Richard Jefferson, who fought through a stomach virus and was given half a bag of intravenous fluid before the game, had 13 points and 12 rebounds. A big factor in the win was limiting Minnesota big man Al Jefferson, who had 40 points and 19 rebounds against the Nets last month. Jefferson was held to 16 and 11 Tuesday. "Every time he caught it we doubled him," Frank said. "It really was a team commitment because we didn't want to leave anyone there one-on-one. I think our guys did a very good job of ... disrupting his rhythm." Minnesota was in the Nets' shoes, but waited until the off-season to trade its marquee player. The Timberwolves sent Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, two first-round picks and cash. The Nets, who may decide to try to move Kidd over the summer, probably would make a deal like that if they found one. E-mail: iannazzone@northjersey.com EAST RUTHERFORD – As Jason Kidd was trying to record his 100th career triple-double, his agent and Nets' special assistant Kiki Vandeweghe were engaged in a conversation just off the court. Both men found their seats – there were plenty available -- in time to witness Kidd come one point and one assist shy of joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only players with at least 100 triple-doubles. They also saw the Nets win their third straight game, a 92-88 defeat of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at Izod Center, which was less than half-full because of the wintry weather and the teams' combined 68 losses before this result. IN THE 'ZZONE The Record's AL IANNAZZONE with all your New Jersey Nets news and inside stories, up close and personal. Visit the blog The Nets (23-29) started to get separation late in the third quarter with an active group that featured Kidd, Sean Williams, Josh Boone, Bostjan Nachbar and Antoine Wright. During one stretch, the Nets, who play their final game before the All-Star break tonight in Toronto, had three straight three-point opportunities, as Nachbar twice and Williams once scored inside on Kidd feeds. "Those guys changed the game," coach Lawrence Frank said. "They got us going. We were stale." Last month in Minnesota, the Nets blew a seven-point lead in the final 1:19 and allowed the Timberwolves to score the final 10 points. The Nets bent this time against Minnesota (10-40), letting a 12-point lead dip to four with 2:25 left. But they didn't break and moved into seventh place in the East. After Kidd drained a three with 2:02 left to put the Nets ahead, 85-78, it didn't get closer than five until Randy Foye's three with 1.6 to go for the game's final points. In what could be Kidd's last home game as a Net, he finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and didn't speak afterward. The conversation between Vandeweghe and agent Jeff Schwartz started at halftime and continued through the start of the third. After the roughly 20-minute chat, Vandeweghe said the Nets were no closer to moving their best player. This was the second straight game Vandeweghe met with someone who is very much involved in Kidd's potential future whereabouts. Before the Nets played Dallas – the top team on Kidd's wish list -- on Sunday, Vandeweghe sat under one basket with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. They worked together in Dallas and said they were catching up. It's doubtful Vandeweghe and Schwartz were talking just about their families. Schwartz is trying to help get Kidd to the Mavericks, but as of now they haven't agreed on anything. It may require a third team for something to get done by the Feb. 21 trade deadline. "There is nothing on the horizon right now," team president Rod Thorn said. "But that could change." Vince Carter's 17 points and 10 assists paced the Nets. Nachbar had 14 points, and Richard Jefferson, who fought through a stomach virus and was given half a bag of intravenous fluid before the game, had 13 points and 12 rebounds. A big factor in the win was limiting Minnesota big man Al Jefferson, who had 40 points and 19 rebounds against the Nets last month. Jefferson was held to 16 and 11 Tuesday. "Every time he caught it we doubled him," Frank said. "It really was a team commitment because we didn't want to leave anyone there one-on-one. I think our guys did a very good job of ... disrupting his rhythm." Minnesota was in the Nets' shoes, but waited until the off-season to trade its marquee player. The Timberwolves sent Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, two first-round picks and cash. The Nets, who may decide to try to move Kidd over the summer, probably would make a deal like that if they found one.