Elimination by the Heat exposed some of New Jersey Nets' weaknesses

A season of positive developments for the New Jersey Nets is sure to be overshadowed by late-game failures in their Eastern Conference semifinal series loss to Miami.
"It's very disappointing," forward Richard Jefferson said after the Heat sent the Nets home with a 106-105 victory in Game 5 Tuesday night in Miami. "They were the better team. They made plays when they needed to. I've never been part of a series where we've been so close."
Some might say the Nets were a few shots or defensive stops away from playing evenly with the Heat. Others could say that the Nets' inability to make plays in the fourth quarter shows how wide the gap remains between them and teams like Miami and Detroit.
It wasn't hard to notice a pattern to the Nets' losses.
In its final three losses, New Jersey had numerous opportunities to take control in the final quarter. In each case, the Heat collectively seized the moment.
That mastery was reflected in the following statistic: of the 36 minutes spanning the fourth quarters of games 3, 4 and 5, the Nets held the lead for just over four minutes, all in Game 3 - but spent about 17 minutes within a shot of tying the game or going ahead.
The trend was especially noticeable in the final two games, when New Jersey was within three points or less for a total of nearly 15 minutes but never took the lead.
"It's hard right now to think about the season," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "I'm just disappointed. I thought we had a tremendous effort. As we see in the playoffs, it's a game of inches. We're sitting here having lost 4-1. I could have done a better job and maybe it could have been the other way around."
If the Miami series exposed the Nets' shortcomings - chief among them a suspect defence and a thin bench that shrank considerably when Clifford Robinson was suspended for violating the league's substance-abuse policy - the regular season and a first-round win over Indiana spotlighted their strengths.
Vince Carter fit in well in his first full season with the team and was frequently spectacular, as in his 51-point effort in a Dec. 23 win at Miami. In the first round against Indiana, he proved equally willing to share the ball, averaging nearly two assists per game more than he did during the regular season.
In his second NBA season, Nenad Krstic continued his development into a front-line big man. The seven-footer from Serbia and Montenegro improved his scoring and rebounding averages by 3.5 points and 1.1 rebounds, respectively. He also shed his soft image and played more aggressively around the basket.
Jason Kidd continued to prove that, at 33, he is still one of the league's elite point guards. He finished fifth in the league in assists per game (8.4) - and fourth in assists per turnover (3.5) - and was named to the NBA's all-defensive team for the fourth time.
Frank mixed and matched his rotation well during the regular season and shepherded the team through separate winning streaks of 10 and 14 games. The Nets finished 49-33, seven games better than last season.
For next season, New Jersey will have to take a hard look at its bench. By the end of the regular season, Frank had all but stopped using Scott Padgett, Zoran Planinic, Antoine Wright and Bostjan Nachbar, and the four combined to play 26 minutes in the 11 playoff games.
A key move last off-season may have been the one the Nets didn't make. They had agreed to sign free-agent forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim but balked when a physical revealed knee problems. Abdur-Rahim later signed with Sacramento and averaged 12 points and five rebounds for the Kings.
The Heat, who picked up Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, Jason Williams and James Posey before the season, can offer a model to emulate. All four made significant contributions against the Nets

Jay Pandolfo: A True Devil

Jay Pandolfo: A True Devilby Ken Palmer
Jay Pandolfo is the prototypical Devil. Selfless, hardworking and team-oriented, it’s no wonder Pandolfo has been a fan favorite and a model representative of the organization since he first made his Devils debut more than nine years ago. A Hobey Baker finalist after scoring 38 goals in 39 games as a senior at Boston University, Pandolfo joined the Devils in April 1996 and hasn’t taken a second off since. “Jay’s the same every day,” Devils Coach Larry Robinson said. “He’s a hard worker, who shows up every night. He’s on our top penalty-killing group. What you see every game is what you see every practice as well.” Robinson admitted that he’d love to have more players like Pandolfo on his roster. “You definitely would like everybody to have that work ethic that he has, no doubt about it,” he said. Pandolfo was honored by his teammates as the Devils Unsung Hero in 1998-99, when he notched his first career overtime tally among his career-high 14 goals, and again in 2002-03, when he tied two teammates for most points scored (5) in New Jersey’s thrilling Eastern Conference Finals victory over Ottawa.Despite the obvious appreciation from his teammates, Devils center Erik Rasmussen said Pandolfo doesn’t receive anywhere near enough credit league-wide for his dedication and desire. “I think ‘Pando’ is the most underrated player – probably not on our team because we all respect him so much – but he’s one of the most underrated players in the league,” Rasmussen said. “If you ever watch him in a game, he does things consistently that not many guys in the league do.” Rasmussen said that above all else, Pandolfo’s toughness is what makes him the special player that he is. “He’s one guy who truly gives everything to the game,” Rasmussen said. “His body, he’s taken bruises and injuries that I’ve not seen guys play through. He is the epitome of what a Devils’ player should be.” The humble Pandolfo, 30, said it’s just part of his job description. “I just try to play the same way and play hard every night,” he said. “A lot of times I’m playing against the other team’s top line, so I just try to do the best I can. Obviously, it’s nice to chip in with some offense as well.” As dependable as they come, Pandolfo finished last season as one of only three Devils to play in all 82 contests.
This season, he posted an assist in his 500th NHL game on November 1 against Pittsburgh, one game after he opened the scoring in Boston on October 29 to ignite a dramatic Devils victory over the Bruins.While New Jersey sure is glad to have number 20 on board, Pandolfo says he thanks his lucky stars every day he gets to wear the Devils sweater. “It’s been great,” said Pandolfo, New Jersey’s 32nd overall choice in the 1993 Entry Draft. “I’ve been very fortunate to play for an organization like this where every year you get to battle for the ultimate prize. It’s been just unreal to have two Stanley Cups and to be able to be a part of such a first-class organization. I couldn’t ask for more.” While most players would moan and groan about what appears to be a mostly thankless task, Pandolfo fully embraces his role as a true defensive winger. “It’s a good job to have,” he said. “You get plenty of ice time and it’s a challenge every night, especially with the new rules. It’s something to look forward to.”While the gritty left winger has made his mark with his smarts, solid defense and dependable positioning and checking, he entered this season boasting 55 career goals and eight additional post-season tallies. He also began the season with five short-handed tallies on his résumé.
During his career, Pandolfo has come up big in key spots, posting six goals during the 2002-03 playoffs as he helped New Jersey bring home Lord Stanley’s hardware once again. “It’s definitely nice,” he said of putting the puck in the net. “Everyone likes to score goals. It’s obviously nice when you contribute offensively. It makes you feel good and gives you a little confidence.” Pandolfo has been chipping in for the Devils for almost a decade now. He notched his first career goal in a 5-3 win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on December 28, 1996. “You always remember the first goal you ever scored,” he recalled. “It might not be the biggest, but you always remember it.” He’ll also always remember how he celebrated the Devils latest championship. While the Burlington, MA native lists U2 as his favorite musical group, in 2003 Pandolfo was delighted to make a surprise visit with the Stanley Cup to Aerosmith, who were playing in nearby Andover, MA. Like most Devils, Pandolfo stated that his fondest memories of his time spent in the Garden State have come when he’s been able to skate into the off-season and immediately go get fitted for a Stanley Cup Championship ring. A member of two title-winning Devils squads, Pandolfo is confident that this year’s version has what it takes to bring yet another Cup to New Jersey. “I think we still have the team here to do it,” the 6-1, 190-pounder said. “We have plenty of time to get this thing going the right way and I think we will.”Pandolfo captured another championship last July when he married longtime girlfriend Juliane Oliver. “It’s really not much different,” Pandolfo said of married life. “It’s been great. We’ve been married four months now. She’s a girl from New Jersey so it’s been nice for her too because she’s from around here.” During his free time in the summer, Pandolfo enjoys returning to the Boston area and spending time on Cape Cod. “I really enjoy that,” he smiled. “It’s a lot of fun.” Pandolfo knows that sitting on the beaches of Cape Cod this summer will be even more enjoyable if his club this June is able to add another championship to its trophy case.

How Nets Shape Up in December

Forward Jason Collins has had a setback on the leg nerve problem that knocked him out of four games last month. Collins sat in Charlotte Wednesday and is expected to miss Friday's game in Cleveland, at least. Against Charlotte, the rotation went 11 deep, including rarely-used Linton Johnson III.
ROTATIONStarters -- Point guard Jason Kidd, Shooting guard Vince Carter, Small forward Richard Jefferson, Power forward Cliff Robinson, Center Nenad Krstic. Bench -- Guard Jeff McInnis, Guard Zoran Planinic, Center Marc Jackson, Guard Jacque Vaughn, Forward Scott Padgett, Forward Linton Johnson.
PLAYER NOTES
--Forward Jason Collins reported he felt the pain from a leg nerve problem return on Saturday when he landed after going up for a rebound. Collins received an injection of a different type of medication that had provided relief for two weeks. He likely is out through the weekend.
--Guard Jeff McInnis, who scored seven points off the bench in the victory over Charlotte, insisted that going back to Cleveland is no big deal.
"Just another game, another basketball game," said McInnis, who likely will hear boos Friday in his old stomping grounds.
--Guard Vince Carter wore a sleeve on his right leg Wednesday night. Carter on Saturday left the game after he was stepped on, and the initial report was he turned his ankle. It turned out that he also twisted his knee. An MRI was negative and Carter scored 23 points in the next game.
--Forward Richard Jefferson enjoyed a flashback on Wednesday. During the Nets' key third quarter burst, Jefferson scored three transition layups, an element that has been sorely lacking in their game.
"I haven't run that much in a while," Jefferson said. "I got tired."

Devil Coach's Strangest Team

December 8, 2005 -- This was Larry Robinson's call to change the Devils' team personality. It's something probably only achievable through a change of team personnel.
"This is the strangest team I've ever been around. They're a different group," Robinson said after the Devils were swamped 4-1 by the Flames last night at the Meadowlands.
Asked if it needs a leader, Robinson didn't hesitate.
"It probably would help. Most great teams have somebody step forward. We're more of a team with a whole bunch of guys and not one particular guy stepping up," Robinson said.
With Scott Stevens retired, Scott Niedermayer in Anaheim, and Patrik Elias ailing, the Devils started the season needing to develop a new personality. They went overboard, creating multiples.
"This is also the same team that totally dominated two pretty good Florida teams (over Thanksgiving).
"They scored 13 goals in Florida and only one [last night]. It's the strangest group I've ever been around," Robinson said.
With Wayne Gretzky and Co. on hand to scout for the Canadian Olympic team, the Devils laid an egg. They played their worst, front to back, left to right, especially in goal, where Martin Brodeur let in three of the first four shots he faced.
The loss was the Devils' third in four, following a three-game winning streak, and ended a four-game home winning streak. They fell 5-2 in Detroit on Tuesday, with John MacLean subbing for Robinson, who returned from a throat infection behind the bench last night.
Gretzky, Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini, the Team Canada braintrust, were swelling the sparse Meadowlands crowd (13,332) last night to scout Brodeur and John Madden for Turin in February. Madden is regarded "outside looking in," according to one official, and second thoughts must have sprouted about Brodeur, whom they still figure as their first choice.
For the second straight night, the Devils opened the scoring then were bulldozed. Alexander Mogilny ended the Devils' 0-for-27 power-play drought with his 10th at 12:50 of the first, on the Devils' third chance. They opened a 12-1 shots advantage before Calgary enjoyed its first power play, and Jarome Iginla evened the score on the Flames' next shot.
Calgary then took over by converting both ends of a 5-on-3 to open the second. Rookie Dion Phaneuf beat Brodeur from the right point, then Daymond Langkow scorched Brodeur from the left wing, his shot glancing in off Brian Rafalski's stick.
"When there's four shots and you've allowed three goals, it's not easy to play with that in the back of your mind," said Brodeur, who rued only Calgary's first goal.
The abdominal strain that already has twice halted Patrik Elias' rehab from hepatitis is really a torn abdominal muscle, The Post has learned. He has resumed skating in hopes of joining the team for practice by New Year's, for possible play by the end of January.
Or, he could stay out through then Olympic break for further conditioning, also allowing Lou Lamoriello more time to find a solution to the $3.3 million of full-season salary he must clear under the cap before Elias can play.
mark.everson@nypost.com

Nets Skin Cats After Eaten By Raptors

CHARLOTTE — The Nets defended. They pushed the ball. They played hard and with effort. Then they defended some more. But they had to.
"We were a desperate team out there," said guard Jeff McInnis.
Lose to Toronto, stink out the joint doing it, have one of your stars question team toughness, then lose your best interior defender to injury and you tend to get desperate.
But the Nets overcame their problems and desperation, halted a two-game losing streak and moved into first place in the Atlantic Division with a 97-84 victory over the Bobcats here with a performance that used the formula employed during their recent years of success. Defend, get stops, get out and run.
And, oh yeah, win.
"We executed our gameplan and played defense. If we play defense, we may not win every game, but we have a good chance of winning," said Jason Kidd, who overcame some eight-turnover sloppiness with 11 points, 11 assists and five steals in the 1,000th victory in Net NBA history.
With Jason Collins (leg) down and out for several games at least — and with the determination to reverse recent trends — coach Lawrence Frank went 11 deep in the rotation, using 10 guys in the first quarter alone. The Nets started strong as Vince Carter scored 10 of his 23 points in the first.
"We're searching. When you're 7-9 you can't just say, 'This is it,' " said Frank. "The effort and the intent was great. We were very sharp. We did a very good job of getting different things accomplished and ... as a result of those stops you saw we were able to get out and run."
Nowhere was the running more evident than the third quarter, amid a game-changing 23-5 run that featured three fastbreak layups by Richard Jefferson (21 points) and a beautiful transition layup by Nenad Krstic (17 points) off a no-look pass from Kidd.
"I haven't run like that in a while," admitted Jefferson, who had rapped team toughness. "I was a little tired."
But the Nets had to run. Desperation and all that. Much of the good forged by holding Charlotte to .349 shooting in the first half came undone with a 1-of-8 shooting, two-turnover stretch that led to a 14-2 Bobcat streak at the start of the third quarter that put Charlotte up, 51-47.
Charlotte, which got 23 points from Brevin Knight, supplied its own defensive stamp, recording three blocks in a span of four Net shots. Frank, wanting a foul call, instead got a technical.
But it was nothing a 9-of-9 shooting streak couldn't cure. Right, the often cold-as-ice Nets hit nine straight baskets — five of them layups in a 6:35 stretch.
"They got up four. That's when we figured we had to speed the game up to our tempo. We showed our veteran leadership in the sense of taking control of the game," Kidd said. "It was a group effort to pick up the pace."
Done.
"Everyone just wanted to do better," said Carter, who wore a sleeve on his sore right leg. "We just wanted to come out and erase that memory (Toronto)."
The Nets shot .494, snuffed the Bobcats to .381 and surrendered their fewest points in eight games. And they had seven blocks, their second-highest total of the season after their eight on opening night. And they had 30 assists on 41 field goals.
It was how the Nets used to do it.
fred.kerber@nypost.com