1-0

    The 2010-2011 New Jersey Nets have already accomplished something the '09-'10 team could not, that's getting a win before December 4th, not to mention stand over .500. In the season/home opener, the Nets could not ask for more. It was against the Detroit Pistons who have a couple players who can hurt you, but just aren't what they used to be. The Nets played an exciting 4 quarters in front of a solid Prudential Center crowd, where the lead went back and forth, and right when the old Nets would have lost hope, these new Nets immediately hit a 3 and fought right back. Down the stretch a bunch of big plays where made including a go-ahead 3 pointer by newcomer Anthony Morrow which put the Nets up 2 with 20 something seconds left. The Nets would play D, get the ball back, and Farmar would hit 2 clutch free throws. However, the Nets were not out of the woods just yet. Charlie Villanueva would hit a trey for Detroit making it a 1 point game. The Nets would knock down 2 more clutch free throws, get the ball back, but Terrence Williams would then miss both! It's a 101-98 ballgame at this point with 2 second left or so. Detroit got a 3 off before time expired, but it didn't even draw iron, and the Nets would indeed prevail.
    Brook Lopez was Brook Lopez in this one scoring 25 and grabbing 9 boards. He's starting to become top-tier player in this league, and by the end of the year he should have some good credentials, including an all-star appearance. Besides Lopez, 3rd overall pick Derrick Favors played a strong role in this game. With just 20 minutes of burn, Favors gripped 10 boards, and added 8 points as well, just a solid rookie debut. He's another guy who will have grown by season's end. Devin Harris played a good leadership role scoring 22 and had 9 dimes to accompany while Jordan Farmar, Harris' backup, had 10 big, high energy points off the bench. Terrence Williams off the bench played with a spark doing a little scoring, rebounding, and assisting. Anthony Morrow sprinkled in 13 points by hitting a couple big 3s, including the game-winner, while guys like Outlaw, Humphries, and Damion James, played solid defense, got some boards, made some plays.
    The differences between this Nets team and last year's are so vast that you can't even bring up last year after last night. A new arena, the beautiful Prudential Center, a new owner, Mikhail Prokarov, the Russian billionaire who will do whatever it takes to build a winner. A new General Manager, Billy King, who has now had experience as a GM, and he's already made a couple of decent moves. Plus the Nets basically have a new roster. Out with the old, in with the new. Even with all that, Avery Johnson is the biggest reason why the Nets can be successful this year. He's a guy who has played in the league before and is a student of the game. From the way he played, you could just tell he's going to be a good coach. High basketball IQ, high octane. He brought a Dallas Mavericks team (with Devin Harris) to an NBA Finals, something the Mavs have had trouble with, with other coaches. With the Nets he's gotten them to be an aggresive team on defense, the boards, and even scoring. It might be early yet, but Avery has the heart, there is no question, and it looks like he's injected that into this young, new, New Jersey roster.