Coach Kidd Gets 1st Win in Rout of Jazz

One thing Jason Kidd never expected to think about after posting his first head coaching win was an electrical issue in Brooklyn’s brand new $1 billon arena.

But as Coach Kidd walked into a pitch black Nets’ locker room following their 104-88 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, that thought popped into his mind.

Despite the lack of light, Jason stepped into the dark locker room to meet with his team and was even more caught off guard by the reason behind the darkness. His team had prepared a touching surprise game-ball ceremony to commemorate his first official victory as a head coach.

“I thought the electricity was off,” Jason said with a smile. “They had the lights out and they presented me the game ball, which was a very classy thing—very respectful.”

Nets guard Joe Johnson said that the team organized the small ceremony to congratulate their coach and show him their appreciation.

“It was great. To get it here at home in Brooklyn is probably even better,” Johnson said. “But it was a congratulations to him as a head coach. You have to start somewhere.”

Kevin Garnett noted that the ceremony was a special moment not only for J-Kidd, but for the others who got to take part in it and for the franchise.

“It was good to get his first win at home,” Garnett said. “When he looks back this group will be a part of that.”

Jason recounted the moment to the media afterward in a way only he could. Coach Kidd downplayed the accomplishment, deftly passing off credit to his players like one of his signature assists.

“The game ball doesn’t come to me,” he stated. “It goes to those guys, because those guys did the work—as a team. It wasn’t an individual out there. This was Brooklyn Nets basketball, where everybody did their part.”

PRACTICE IN THE POST

J-Kidd’s recollection of the locker room presentation could’ve also served as a description of how his team made the quick turnaround to beat the Jazz after a disappointing 107-86 loss on Sunday to the Orlando Magic.

Brooklyn did it with good, old-fashioned hard work.

That work began on Monday as the Nets held an intense practice session at the PNY Center. Jason stressed the importance of having a paint presence after the loss in Orlando and Brooklyn immediately went to work on improving. Garnett, one of the many veteran leaders on the Brooklyn roster, revealed after the game how much the passionate practice session on Monday had to do with Tuesday’s result.

“Yesterday was probably the hardest practice we’ve had since training camp,” Garnett said. “Orlando was a totally failed effort and we really got after it. I’d like to say yesterday’s carry-over from that practice was today. We emphasized in that practice — touching the paint, being in the paint, getting to the free-throw line, being aggressive, and I thought we carried that over tonight.”

Against Utah, that philosophy played out perfectly. Brooklyn outscored Utah 58-26 in the paint—much of which was thanks to an enormous game from center Brook Lopez. The All-Star big man tallied a game-high 27 points with seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and block.

“Brook was great tonight. We played through him. Again, its as just all about getting the ball in the paint and going from there,” J-Kidd said. “As a team that’s what we talked about yesterday. In yesterday’s practice, the only way you score is by getting the ball in the paint…That’s what we focused on and those guys delivered.”

STRIDES ON DEFENSE

Another talking point for Coach Kidd after the Orlando defeat was defense. Against the Magic, Brooklyn’s offensive struggles caused the team lose defensive focus, resulting in a bundle of easy baskets for the opposition. After Brooklyn turned that scenario around against Utah, J-Kidd revealed that the Nets wanted to protect the paint on defense just as much as they wanted to attack it offensively.

“We made a conscious effort not to let guys get easy catches,” Jason said. “That’s something we talked about when we saw what happened in Orlando—they were catching the ball easy…It all started the day before and it happened Sunday. Lesson learned and we bounced back.”

POISED PIERCE

J-Kidd also lauded the play of another Brooklyn veteran, swingman Paul Pierce. The offseason addition from Boston has hit double figures scoring with at least four rebounds and an assist in every game so far this season.

“He’s a true pro—as good as they come,” J-Kidd said of Pierce. It’s basketball; he’s been doing this for a long time. He understands the opportunity we have as a whole. He’s one of the guys who is playing extremely well for us now, on both ends. That’s what we need from our leaders and that’s what he is. He’s a leader.”

As Jason revealed, Pierce hasn’t even been the biggest benefactor of his own production. Pierce’s versatility has opened up windows of opportunity for every other player on the floor.

The former Kansas Jayhawk was instrumental in sparking a big game from Lopez early. Pierce hit the game’s first shot, a triple off a feed from point guard Deron Williams. Then he went to work, dishing three straight times to Lopez, who scored 11 of the game’s first 23 points.

SELFLESS NETS

While Pierce added 11 points, five boards, four dimes and two steals, he allowed for several others to post big games as well. Six Nets reached double figures in the win, including center Andray Blatche and guard Shaun Livingston off the bench.

It also helped that 13 different Brooklyn players spent more than 10 minutes on the floor. With so many players involved in the production, it made the game easy for the Nets, and in particular Williams, who had a game-high eight dimes. Going forward, Williams likes the look of the unselfish Nets.

“We don’t have anybody that’s worried about scoring,” Williams said. “That’s the beautiful thing about this team. Nobody really cares if they score 10, if they score 20, if they score two. We just want to win.”

That team-first attitude is a product of Brooklyn’s veteran-laden lineup. J-Kidd credited that poised, veteran attitude for the turnaround Tuesday night.

“Again, it is still early in the process,” Coach Kidd said, “but we have some veteran guys that know what it means to lose a game that got out of hand and get off to a good start, and that’s what they did tonight.”

NEXT UP

Brooklyn will have a few more days to make advances in that process before their next game. The Nets aren’t back in action until Friday when they make a brief road trip to Washington to take on the Wizards.

The Nets took three of four contests from the Washington last season and split their two contests at the Verizon Center in D.C. While with the New York Knicks, J-Kidd also won three of four against the Wizards and split the two tilts in D.C.

After Friday night’s meeting in D.C., the Nets will have a quick turnaround, heading back to BK for a Saturday night test against a major Eastern Conference contender, the Indiana Pacers.

BK will tipoff in D.C. at 7:00 p.m. ET Friday and will take on the Pacers back at home at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday. Friday’s contest will be broadcast locally on YES, while Saturday’s game will air on YES locally and also be televised nationally on NBA TV.