ROUND 1 GAME 6: NETS @ BULLS | Thursday | 8:00pm | TNT

[Paradise]

I'm not sure about greatest but best in possibly a decade.

Haven't seen any teams the last 10 or so years come back from 3-1 with the type of losses we sustained.

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[therealbig3]

I don't really have a good feeling about game 7 to be honest. Game 7s usually come down to effort and execution, two areas of the game that we absolutely suck at. We're a stupid team that takes the foot off the gas pedal way too easily.

[CalamityX12]

Effort, execution, desire and commitment is needed from our boys....

Lopez needs a sitdown to correct his defensive positioning and box out once and for all.....

[Paradise]

I don't really have a good feeling about game 7 to be honest. Game 7s usually come down to effort and execution, two areas of the game that we absolutely suck at. We're a stupid team that takes the foot off the gas pedal way too easily.

Those factors were shown in Game 5.

I think being at home will bring out that side from the jump hopefully.

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[enetric]

I'm glad the Nets won.

But: The Bulls beat themselves. What I saw tonight from the Nets, in an elimination game, was a team that had zero urgency, and zero fortitude.

I know the argument about "heart" has been poo poo'd on here, but jesus christ the Nets showed ZERO heart tonight. They should have blown the Bulls out of their own goddamn building.

The Nets played soft as all **** in the 2nd half. It was almost embarrassing to watch. Even when PJ had the correct guys in there, they were playing soft on both ends, and couldn't hit FTs.

The Bulls beat themselves. I've never been so embarrassed for a team after a playoff win.

These dudes do not bring it every night. As much as I hate PJ, I have to say: this roster is soft, and they have no desire to win a goddamn thing

30 pages to read one truly honest post.

Yes guys...happy we won but this team is just hard to watch.

In the second half the Bulls couldnt hit a damn shot. But it didnt matter. On almost every miss we failed to box out and gave them a second shot at it. Tip, tap back...something that resulted in a second shot.

No hustle for loose balls. Missed ft's and the worst D I have ever seen. And yes, even when PJ played the right lineup...we still stunk it up. Huge clutch ft's by Blatche and Deron drawing that late foul were nice...but where was the take over a the game needed from our pretend star?

I think the worst thing for me was how many times I saw someone under the basket watch the Bulls shoot and fail to put a body on a white jersey. I saw Crash do it 4 times.

Just a disgusting team who almost blew it to Bellinelli, Nate with the flu and Noah on one leg.

Onto game 7. Flip a coin for that one.

That right there is why I usually ignore certain posts. Because it has no actual logic.

drawing fouls, stopping the clock, getting free points when the team is shooting 22% in a half IS taking over a game. It shows IQ to not settle for jumpers and attack their weak depth.

You do not have to like Deron but can keep the ND stuff out of it.

If Deron tried to ballhog, if brook tried to ballhog or if Joe tried to ballhog to play hero ball and fail, you would bash them as well.

As much as we played like crap, not settling for jumpers late showed the vet side of them that has been missing all year and most importantly in that Game 4.

Your reasoning over Deron is honestly hilarious. You said you hate his transition threes but wanted him basically chuck it up and take over.

The team played like a preseason game in the 4th and there is no excuse for that and that is all too it. If it wasnt for the backcourt drawing fouls, we would have lost by shooting terrible jumpers.

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You are truly noise pollution. You whine like a little gurl spelled with a U. In fact your daily posts read like a 14 year old gurl named Tammi...heart over the i.

Reggie, this and Reggie that. I actually read your posts in my head with a young female voice. Your understanding of the NBA is perhaps the lowest I have seen in 12 years on this board. You blame 95% of the things that go wrong on low level role players and the coach. While they have their share of the pie your inability to accurately asses anything else about the game is why you are the worst thing we inherited on this board since the Brooklyn move. You read like the worst of Netsdaily and honestly I can only guess you arent there anymore because even they kicked you off.

My comments about Deron have been fair and spot on. You are oblivious to all of his faults and its nauseating.

As for this game...my point was...there is a moment when the train is coming off the tracks late in games that a true star...TAKES OVER. Not asking him to ball hog or jack up those idiotic pull up 3's over 3'sw created off ball movement. You just dont understand what a good shot is vs. a bad shot. I am saying...that there is a moment when you drive into the D and get your ass to the line twice in a row. Then you get the double....then you drive and kick. To many moments in these games where he doesnt do that. And I dont know if you noticed....no scratch that I know you didnt notice....whoever he guards lights us up like a Christmas tree. When your star player is a wash with Nate or Bellinelli each night..PROBLEM.

Now this wasnt all on him...lots of blame to go around. But as usual you wouldnt know that. You wont talk about failed D, you wont talk about the failures of star players...or a lack of boxing out. You only know 30 pages, of Reggie, PJ, Crash...oh my... to the tune of 35 posts per game that say the same thing over and over again.

Please stick to putting little flowers on your diary and let the grown ups talk.

[enetric]

I'm glad the Nets won.

But: The Bulls beat themselves. What I saw tonight from the Nets, in an elimination game, was a team that had zero urgency, and zero fortitude.

I know the argument about "heart" has been poo poo'd on here, but jesus christ the Nets showed ZERO heart tonight. They should have blown the Bulls out of their own goddamn building.

The Nets played soft as all **** in the 2nd half. It was almost embarrassing to watch. Even when PJ had the correct guys in there, they were playing soft on both ends, and couldn't hit FTs.

The Bulls beat themselves. I've never been so embarrassed for a team after a playoff win.

These dudes do not bring it every night. As much as I hate PJ, I have to say: this roster is soft, and they have no desire to win a goddamn thing

30 pages to read one truly honest post.

Yes guys...happy we won but this team is just hard to watch.

In the second half the Bulls couldnt hit a damn shot. But it didnt matter. On almost every miss we failed to box out and gave them a second shot at it. Tip, tap back...something that resulted in a second shot.

No hustle for loose balls. Missed ft's and the worst D I have ever seen. And yes, even when PJ played the right lineup...we still stunk it up. Huge clutch ft's by Blatche and Deron drawing that late foul were nice...but where was the take over a the game needed from our pretend star?

I think the worst thing for me was how many times I saw someone under the basket watch the Bulls shoot and fail to put a body on a white jersey. I saw Crash do it 4 times.

Just a disgusting team who almost blew it to Bellinelli, Nate with the flu and Noah on one leg.

Onto game 7. Flip a coin for that one.

I felt like Deron was clearly our best player tonight, and he actually closed the game out for us along with Blatche. We scored 14 points in the last 8 minutes...7 of them were directly created by D-Will, either by scoring or setting someone else up. He drew fouls late, got to the line, set people up, and he won the tip over Noah that ultimately sealed the game, after the refs missed an obvious foul. He didn't put on a dominant performance (he was great in the first half, really quiet in the second half), but it was an overall solid game from him and he led us to the win. He was the main reason we had the lead at halftime and were able to hold off the Bulls.

Personally, I'm much more disappointed in Brook and Evans and Blatche and Hump...our big men were getting completely outworked by the Bulls big men, and their rotations on defense were awful...gave up a ton of layups and dunks, which is how the Bulls stayed in it.

I was not blaming Deron for all. This entire game was disgusting across the board. I was happy with little things..Hump, CJ, Blatche...JJ played great first half. Surprised you lumped Hump in there...he played well in this game. Did little things very well when he was out there.

A lot of what went wrong tonight was D. Not just on the ball...but help D. Boxing out a man...any man off the switch.

Reggie stinks for starting minutes. PJ is a stubborn mule with the rotations and lack of adapting to in game situations. No doubt. I feel no point is saying that again...because 50 times a thread....ITS ALL THAT IS COVERED!!!!!!! So I am not saying...its NOT Reggie...or PJ. I am saying...come on!!! Can we understand the bigger picture? If we get George Karl and some OTHER 3 mil per year version of Reggie....we arent seeing a major difference unless we get much more from the better players.

Its OK to say...yes, there is bad shot selection..from Deron. There is fading further out from Lopez until he goes out of range at times. There is Crash going to sleep under the basket and letting a big get the offensive rebound over his back, a tap in or tap out. Not just him...but my lord was he guilty of it over and over in this game. I would rip into JJ...but I think a lot of his issues are health related...so I dont see the point in harping on him. He is what he is.

On box outs...height isnt the only issue. Cant simply say...BIG GUYS got taps...must be our big guys who didnt seal off their man. Rewind and watch it again after each tip in, tap out or offensive rebound and reset. Its unreal how often it ISNT REGGIE or Lopez.

In this game...the Bulls bigs did keep them in it...but it wasnt off plays. it was off offensive rebounds and tips that many times were avoidable by someone else who failed basketball 101, which says: when the shot is up...you put yourself between the hoop and a man on the other team regardless of whether or not he is YOUR man. Unreal how guilty this entire team is of failing to do that. Noah is on one leg. I dont care if its the smallest man on the team. Ball goes up and he is near you? You better give him a bump. Not stan there and watch the freakin shot!!!

As for Deron...I want better D. I want good shot selection early in games. I want better ball movement. Specifically...BEFORE a pull up 3 that there is no chance to rebound off a miss or any shot that it leads to a defensive adjustment from the Bulls to give us an open look elsewhere as the game goes on. Those shots? ALL DAY LONG they will give those to him. Leads to nothing but self contained offense. Late in games...its HIS TIME. Once big men are in foul trouble...once a game is close...that is when yes I expect my elite star to take over a game. Be it score, pass...settle down his team...whatever. I want to feel his hand on EVERY play. Not saying that he has to take every shot. Just saying...there are moments in these epic collapses that yes...YOU DO NEED that ONE GUY. That's his job.

How many non Nets homers have to say it? This team has no sense of urgency. It plays half assed. That starts with your stars. You can have a Nate of JR Smith on your team working the crowd. But style and identity is going to come from your top 2-3 guys.

[enetric]

30 pages to read one truly honest post.

Yes guys...happy we won but this team is just hard to watch.

In the second half the Bulls couldnt hit a damn shot. But it didnt matter. On almost every miss we failed to box out and gave them a second shot at it. Tip, tap back...something that resulted in a second shot.

No hustle for loose balls. Missed ft's and the worst D I have ever seen. And yes, even when PJ played the right lineup...we still stunk it up. Huge clutch ft's by Blatche and Deron drawing that late foul were nice...but where was the take over a the game needed from our pretend star?

I think the worst thing for me was how many times I saw someone under the basket watch the Bulls shoot and fail to put a body on a white jersey. I saw Crash do it 4 times.

Just a disgusting team who almost blew it to Bellinelli, Nate with the flu and Noah on one leg.

Onto game 7. Flip a coin for that one.

I know you hate us blaming Reggie, but I'm going to do it anyway. Look, when Deron/JJ are hitting their shots....then this starting line-up is fine. If they are not, however like they were doing in that third quarter...we absolutely have to change it up. It puts too much of a strain on us offensively when those guys can't make a shot. When Deron/JJ aren't hitting their shots, we need another shot-creator in there. Watson, Brooks, whoever.

I agree completely. Not sure why you would think I am saying otherwise. My beef isnt being annoyed with Reggie or PJ....its the idea that somehow they are the blame for all. That this team is really a 60 win team capable of being in the NBA finals of only we didnt have Reggie but some OTHER low level Role guy doing his job. We have 80+mil in payroll. More than most. We are invested in several big guys. Its really OK to see their flaws and understand that if we had some mildy better player than Reggie...e still have a TON of issues.

We talk about no sense of urgency...and that extends to the coach. As we have seen all year, and in Game 2(?), once again..our coach watched as our offense struggled in the third quarter as the Bulls packed in their defense inside and took away the paint. Yet, he watched and watched as the lead dwindled down as our offense got bogged down yet again until the 6 minute mark and the Bulls cut the lead down to like 2 or 4 points.

They could NOT buy a basket. This would have been the perfect opportunity for PJ to make an adjustment for the offense to allow us to increase our lead. Instead, he stuck with the same lineup and watched our lead evaporate.

Is it all PJ's fault? No, the players have to hit their shots and Deron wasn't really hitting his. But he also needs to help the team out.

No argument here either Speedy. But read through game threads. My issue is...95% there are ass clowns we have inheriited who make 30 posts per game that are oblivious to big picture or seeing where the stars fail us. Where the team does lack energy or sense of urgency. Where there is NO reaction from the ONE guy who has to change it....THE SUPERSTAR.

You talk about not having a sense of urgency. You know who played with a sense of urgency? CJ Watson. Marshon Brooks. Kris Humphries. Were they perfect on the floor? Of course not. They are role players for a reason. But they get yanked just so PJ can stick with his rotation. These three guys were hustling and diving on the floor and they are not being rewarded. When Lopez had to come in the 4th, Evans should have been the one to sit...not Kris, at least until Dray was ready to come back in. Not to say Reggie's not hustling, because he always does. But he's such a liability. If he's not getting rebounds (and I don't count the at least 3-4 rebounds he stole from a teammate), then he's absolutely worthless out there. He can't score. He can't defend. He can't pass. He's a great compliment when things around him are working like clockwork. But when they are not, then he simply adds to the problem.

Still no argument Speedy. Not sure why anyone would think I am defending PJ or Reggie. I am not. I am saying...dear lord...lets stop the denial. I am not worried that the house has a bad boilier if the roof has a hole in it.

Lopez getting 3 boards is pathetic. Crash getting 3 boards is just as bad. They missed 53 shots. We corralled only 41 of them. Their MO was basically to draw Lopez to have him contest a shot, box Reggie out while their other big feasted on the board. Terrible.

And that is how Reggie becomes justified bad as he is. How many nights do the other starting 4 combine for a total a TOTAL of 10 or less rebounds per game? Its pathetic. A HUGE part of why we cant get up the floor quickly. That...and Deron is at best average speed...but if we had a wing who could rebound and dribble it over half court it would help greatly.

Late in the game...FT game right? So why was Reggie and Crash in the game? Why put Dray aaaallll the way to the backcourt? You got Deron/JJ/Brook playing 3 on 4. Put Dray in our side of the court where he can actually be useful and set a screen rather than having him standing on our side of the court twiddling his thumbs. Seriously, Nate almost picked him clean.

And then late in the game, JJ/Deron basically dribble the clock, and then the Bulls smartly did not show their trap until the ballhandler makes a move. So what happens? Dray and Lopez get stuck with having the ball in their hands with 6 seconds or less...WHILE THEY WERE IN THE PERIMETER!!! JJ/Deron was the exact opposite in the 1st half as they were in the 2nd half.

Would not surprise me if this team gets blown out in Game 7.

Seriously...they were hurt. Missing half their roster it seems. And we got a VERY VERY Ref-friendly called game. And we almost lost the game. Should have.

This team is so far from being a contender that it's hilarious. And King getting an extension? Laughable.

Props to Blatche though for hitting those free-throws.

Still no argument.

[MrDollarBills]

Greatest NBA comeback in a seven game series ?

No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit and won the next 4 games.

187 teams have been behind 3-1 and only 8 have come back to win the series.

Out of those 8 teams I don't know how many won the first game and then lost the next three and still came back to win the series and I doubt any of those 8 teams lost game 4 in triple OT and still managed to win the next 3 games.

If the Nets win tomorrow they might rightfully claim to have made the greatest comeback in a 7 game series in NBA history.

There's nothing great coming back 3-1 against a team that is missing their best player and wracked with injuries.

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[vincecarter4pres]

Honestly though in hindsight, all faults of this team aside, the Bulls are the toughest first round opponent in the East for any of the HCA teams.

The only team that would have had there way with them would have been Miami in all likelihood.

I mean I would have much rather had Atlanta or Boston personally.

I truly wonder where the Knix would be right now if they had gotten the Bulls?

All cliches aside, the Bulls truly are a tough gritty team who plays insanely above their heads, are incredibly well coached, at least on the defensive end and have been this route before.

I know I certainly underestimated them.

Yes our team has been rather disappointing, but not even in an overrating of our team aspect, but maybe the true homerism of people such as myself who thought we would run shop on the Bulls was not because we thought so highly of our team(cause I personally didn't), but because we thought the Bulls were glorified junk as is and with so many injuries and what not?

Just sayin'...

[CalamityX12]

Chicago is clearly a stronger defensive team than the other lower seeds.... but still offensively challenged IMO.

[DarkXaero]

Honestly though in hindsight, all faults of this team aside, the Bulls are the toughest first round opponent in the East for any of the HCA teams.

The only team that would have had there way with them would have been Miami in all likelihood.

I mean I would have much rather had Atlanta or Boston personally.

I truly wonder where the Knix would be right now if they had gotten the Bulls?

All cliches aside, the Bulls truly are a tough gritty team who plays insanely above their heads, are incredibly well coached, at least on the defensive end and have been this route before.

I know I certainly underestimated them.

Yes our team has been rather disappointing, but not even in an overrating of our team aspect, but maybe the true homerism of people such as myself who thought we would run shop on the Bulls was not because we thought so highly of our team(cause I personally didn't), but because we thought the Bulls were glorified junk as is and with so many injuries and what not?

Just sayin'...

I agree 100%. I was talking to my friend (and fellow Nets fan today) about the series, and came to the realization that Bulls were the worst matchup to get outside of the Heat. Other than the Heat, I really do believe that every other team in the East would either lose or go 7 games with them in a tight series (that goes either way). Looking at the difficulty that the Knicks have had dealing with a pretty awful Celtics team, it makes you wonder how they would have fared against the Bulls. We already know that the Bulls killed them in the regular season (not just wins either, they were blowouts), so just based on that, it's a tough series for Knicks.

Then we have the Pacers who had trouble beating a weak Hawks team. They just finished it in 6, in a close game 6, and that could have easily gone to game 7. Bulls and Pacers are very similar team, except Bulls are better coached and have a much better offense (in terms of ball movement, play calls, and execution) than the Pacers. Pacers do have more talent but I think they would have lost to the Bulls in a 6-7 game series too.

Like you said, this Bulls team plays well above their talent and are extremely well coached & mentally tough. I don't think the Heat would blow them out either. Heat probably beat them in 5-6 games, but they would be close games. Our series is far from a certainty, I'll not be surprised at all with us losing tomorrow, despite us having all the momentum.

[DarkXaero]

Chicago is clearly a stronger defensive team than the other lower seeds.... but still offensively challenged IMO.

They're offensively challenged in terms of talent (missing way too open jumpers/easy looks), but not execution.

[CalamityX12]

Chicago is clearly a stronger defensive team than the other lower seeds.... but still offensively challenged IMO.

They're offensively challenged in terms of talent (missing way too open jumpers/easy looks), but not execution.

easily, their execution is top in the league(part of)... great coaching gets you that.

[therealbig3]

The Knicks were afraid of the Bulls, and were trying their hardest to avoid them. They would have lost in 6 to the Bulls, imo, although it's hard to say how the Bulls injuries would have played into it. But they would have limited Melo more than even the Celtics did. They just don't have ANY go to scorers...at least the Celtics had KG and Pierce (but Pierce was GOD-AWFUL this series...if this was truly his last year with Boston...what a horrible way to end an incredible Celtic career).

The Bulls will overachieve no matter who plays. I have a ton of respect for that team.

[therealbig3]

@enetric

I have a question for you, because I feel you're being inconsistent with your stance on those pull-up 3s. I remember when we played the Blazers, you were very high on Lillard, and at one point, he took a pull-up 3 (he made it) with no chance for an offensive rebound, and you praised him for it, for taking what the defense was giving him. But you're very critical of Deron when he does the same thing.

I understand that those are quick shots that use up little time and there isn't any ball-movement...but if the best shooter on the team ends up with a wide open look from 3 as a result of pushing the ball, won't that probably be the best shot we end up getting in that possession anyway? It's not like he takes 10 of them a game anyway, he takes like 2 of them, if that. And he makes a decent amount of them.

I do agree that he has a tendency to "heat-check" when there's really no need for that.

I mean, if you want to talk about poor shot selection from our stars...what about those 30 foot, contested 3s from JJ when he's not even hot? What about those 18 foot turnaround fadeaways off one foot from Lopez when he could have taken a 5 foot baby hook? I understand that more is expected of Deron, but if we compare him to everyone else on the team, it's clear to me that his shot selection, his decision-making, and his BBIQ is worlds better than anyone else.

[enetric]

I am high on Lillard as a rook. He has plenty of room to up his game. Not sure I recall praising him for a pull up shot. I might have praised the talent of the player and how excited I am for his upside and might have gotten caught up in a moment that he was feeling it. He was a big key to my 3-peat championship in my fantasy money league so I am sure I was riding high enjoying him that day...lol....sorry if I led you to believe I was being inconsistent.

In general I am not a huge fan of that shot. Doesnt mean you should NEVER take it. The D goes completely asleep on you...there are say 30 second left on the clock for the quarter and you have a chance to get the ball back one more time and you cant see the drive that puts you on the line? Go for it. Get that shot up play D, and get that extra FGA...no problem. You are just that insanely hot and oyu have a chance to go from a 2+ possesion lead to 3 go for it. But he takes it at times that really do not make sense.

With Deron...yes the HEAT CHECK that drives me nuts. He takes it even if its NOT the best shot. The most effective NBA teams move the ball side to side. The exploit the opposing team by taking what they leave unguarded. They make them work and as the game goes on...one smart play creates easier looks later. Deron takes way too many what I call "self contained" buckets. Shots that do not lead to defensive adjustments.

He is not the only guy who does it...but I really feel he does it too often and at stages of the game I cant justify it. Lets put it another way...."that's not the shot we wanted there".

I agree with you completely on your comments about Lopez and JJ. Slight wrinkle. The 18 foot pick and pop for Lopez...he has that shot money all day. its a set shot. And that shot DOES force a D to adjust. It makes a big man have to come out on subsequent plays if you hit a couple of those. The way to make them effective is to see the adjustment...and NOT fade out to 22!!! You see the adjustment..and someone has to roll to the basket for a pass into the paint. That is where Lopez drives me nuts because what he does he just keep going further and further out until he is out of range. What is the point of that?

JJ is ISO Joe. Always was always will be. Want him t be more effective from deep? Better side to side ball movement would create more set shots for him. Let him get his rhythm. Otherwise JJ is going to all he can to get himself going. He is not a play maker for others he is a self creator. But he can shoot. So I feel if we ran more plays that forced the D to move side to side...we would get better looks for him.

See...our team doesnt run enough plays that maximize opportunities. And when they do...I am often shocked how easily they are content to give it away. Instead of taking the GOOD shot they take the lower percentage shot that doesnt create contact. Its a mind blowingly bad combination. Bad coaching from PJ...Bad floor leadership from Deron at times not to see what we are missing and terrible team execution.

You know I want to be clear about something. I do not blame Deron for all or most of what is wrong. He is still our best player. I do not think he is a bum. I am just fed up with the ignorance by some (not you) that act like this team is a contender based on the great Deron Williams and our big 3 and if only we didnt have awful Reggie and PJ...look out! I comment so often abut Deron not because I hate the guy. Its because I am shocked at how little blame some of the homers we have picked up this year are willing to put on him.

In the NBA you can only go so far as your stars can take you. Take Melo off the Nix and they are a putrid bunch. Have you really looked at that team? I was hard on Melo for years on this board long before he became a Knick. And I am die hard CUSE fan. So its not with bias...I just though he was extremely over rated. This year he played at another level. I give credit where credit is due. I want the same for Deron. He isnt the superstar I thought we were getting so far. When we got him...I was THRILLED we missed out on Melo and got him. Now..I am thinking...I cant see us doing all that much better than we did this year over the next 3 even with a new coach even with a new role playing PF. Now if we some how add another star player to share the load? OK...lets talk. But as we are built...I cant help but keep it real. Deron has to severely up his game or we are not going anywhere.

The problems run much deeper than the surface chatter posted daily by a few of the less knowledgeable posters we seem to have picked up the last year or two (Not you). After a while I am stunned we cant have an honest conversation about it. That's what this board used to be. Something that ran deeper. More in depth hoops analysis. True basketball understanding. Its what made us better than other sites where the team board was a bunch cheerleaders rooting for the stars like celebs ignorant of their flaws.


By the way...you dont have to do the @ enetric thing. Feel free to call me E.