Game 62 – New Jersey @ London (L 116-103 / 17-45 / streak L1) Sunday March 4, 2011
Watched the whole game
The Raptors took their skills overseas to battle the Nets in the biggest, most meaningless of NBA contests this season. This game showcased two teams that have potential, certainly, but still don’t have a clear picture of what it is that they need to take them to that next level. The Nets’ Russian billionaire owner has become one of the best new ‘characters’ in the NBA and he plans on turning the team into a global brand, playing overseas is a start. The Raps have lots of players and ownership from overseas, which makes it easier for friends and family to travel to this game across Europe than to fly all the way across the Atlantic. This game was competitive for the first three quarters but the Nets pulled away in the fourth en route to a 116-103 win. For the sixth worst team in the NBA (Nets) to beat the fifth worst team in the NBA (Raps) was no surprise, I guess. DeMar scored 30, Bargs had 23 (3 rebounds) but it was just a poor defensive effort. Kris Humphries outhustled the Raps for 18 points and 17 rebounds. The Raps just don’t close the lane on defense, or intimidate in the paint, allowing Brook Lopez to drive to the basket often and use his length to sky over defenders or simply shoot it up with a variety of moves. He finished with 25 points and 2 rebounds in Bargnani-like fashion. Deron Williams exposed Calderon’s defense. The Raps are not a good perimeter defense team, especially at the point guard slot. Plenty of highlights in this game (mostly for the Nets), the cream of the crop happened when D-Will drops Sonny Weems on a crossover then throws the oop to Brook which may be the move of his career, plus he was rocking a headband, which he doesn’t normally do. Mike Fratello and Marv Albert announced the game and provided humorous, pointed insights into the Raptors’ weaknesses that Raps announcers Matt and Jack would never dare say. Their voices brought me back to my NBA Live 06 days, which I busted out right after the game, and no, I did not play as the Raptors…
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