Slam Dunk Central

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Once upon a time - actually not that long ago - there was a time where if Vince Carter struggled, then so did the New Jersey Nets; in other words, as Carter goes, so did the team.? The same could be said with their center Nenad Krstic; if he slumped along with Carter, the Nets would on most nights get blown out of the arena.

But oddly enough, both players are struggling offensively yet the Nets are sporting a 3-1 record.? You may be asking yourself - how can that be when the 2 offensive stars on the team are slumping yet are winning at the same time?? At this juncture of the season, it would have to be defense.? According to Nets head coach Lawrence Frank, guarding is the key.? He told Brian Lewis of the New York Post, “I think one is we’re guarding.? Over the course of time Vince is going to be fine.? But by defending, you give yourself a margin for error, through missed shots, turnovers, their runs, if you consistently guard for 48 minutes.? That makes us a better team.”

There would be some legitimacy to Frank’s argument; the Nets are allowing, up until right now, teams to shoot a stingy 41.9 %, which is fifth-best in the NBA.? Last year, Carter and Krstic were scoring 25.2 PPG and 16.4 PPG, respectively, but defensive woes had the Nets struggling for what seemed like the entire season.? As of right now, Carter is averaging 15.3 PPG (down obviously) and Krstic is averaging only 8.3 PPG (minutes are down right now).? But what is surprising is the players who are picking up the slack at the moment.? Richard Jefferson is putting up 25.8 PPG, and a player who was almost a lost cause, in the opinion of the Nets - Antoine Wright - is putting up some surprisingly good numbers (13.5 PPG).

The defensive numbers are a bit misleading in light of the Nets’ 3-1 record.? The team’s scoring around 90 a night, but allowing a tick under 95.? That would usually spell defeat on most nights.? Yet somehow, the Nets have found ways to win defensively.? Jason Kidd’s 2.5 steals per game help, of course, but I’d have to say that “timely” defense (supported by the 41.9% shooting the Nets are allowing per contest) is playing a big part in the resurgence the Nets are enjoying thus far this season.

The?Atlantic Conference?is, on a win-loss basis, a relatively strong conference (Toronto being the only team under .500 at 2-3).? I would have to say that once Carter gets his scoring groove on (and you know he will), Krstic logs more minutes per game (a given) and a boost from Sean Williams - who has been MIA as of late, the Nets should be able to stay near the top of the conference; Boston is playing gangbusters right now, but that doesn’t mean that the Nets can’t have second place all to themselves.? Of course, the defense they’re employing right now will have to continue - no more of the “watch Vince score and hope for the best”.