Nets – Raptors Recap: Ben Uzoh Too Much for Tanking Nets
Tonight, Johan Petro and the New Jersey Nets put a lid on their season and New Jersey basketball history as they were defeated by Ben Uzoh and the Toronto Raptors, 98-67, at the Air Canada Centre. Both teams sat all their starters, assumedly because they wanted to lose the game in order to improve their positioning in the upcoming draft lottery. Petro scored the last ever New Jersey basket and former Net benchwarmer Ben Uzoh recorded a triple double, the first Raptors triple double in twelve years. The Raptors began the game on a 17-2 run and finished the first quarter on a 15-0 run. They never looked back. This game was comical above all else because it featured so much inept play and four whole quarters of garbage time.
If you would like to read about individual plays and my immediate reactions to them, you can check out our Live Game Notes page.
The Nets entered the game with the same record as the Toronto Raptors and with the loss, they currently stand as the 6th worst team in the league. The Cavaliers and Hornets also lost, so they will finish with a worse record than the Nets. The Nets will hope that the Kings win later tonight because if they do, the Nets will be tied with them for having the fifth worst record in the league.
Back to the Nets game. The Nets only dressed 8 players in this game, and they were probably the 8 worst players on the team. Jordan Williams recorded his first career double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Johan “pronounce the J, please” Petro finished with 12 rebounds and 9 points. DeShawn Stevenson started at power forward and oh God was that an ugly sight. He finished with 0 points over 20 minutes of play. DeShawn had a +/- of -32 in this game, easily the worst +/- on the team. MarShon was very unwatchable too, as he was off all night. On one occasion, he took a short corner jump shot that hit the side of the backboard, a la Stephen Graham, Quinton Ross, Trenton Hassell, and other ex-Net not so greats. He only made 4 of his 17 shots and at least half of those were wide open garbage time dunks. This is inexcusable and extremely discouraging. He needs to get better over the summer.
I absolutely refuse to write a paragraph about the Raptors. I’m sorry, I just can’t do it. Have a nice summer, Solomon Alabi, Ed Davis, Gary Forbes, and Jamaal Magloire. Once again, congratulations Big Ben Uzoh on making Raptors history by recording a triple double. Here is a picture of him when he played for the Nets:
Players notes, stats, and grades:
Sundiata Gaines: 22:39 MIN, 1-5 FG, 7 PTS, 2 AST. Grade: F
I really hope this was the last game of Gaines’ Nets career. He is not an NBA quality point guard. 2 assists for your starting point guard is not gonna cut it.
MarShon Brooks: 30:41 MIN, 4-17 FG, 9 PTS, 4 REB, -25. Grade: F
If you are a natural scorer and are faced with the Toronto Raptors on the last game of the season, you need to score. 4 of 17 shooting does not qualify. Work hard in summer league, MarShon. Get better, please, especially at defense.
Gerald Green: 24:15 MIN, 4-13 FG, 10 PTS, 5 REB, -13. Grade: C-
Gerald Green ignored gravity once again when he recorded a vicious dunk. Aside from that, he had a bad game, just like Brooks. However, the difference in my mind is that Green has proven he belongs in the NBA. I think the jury is still out on MarShon.
DeShawn Stevenson: 20:28, 0 PTS, 1 REB, -32. Grade: Beside the point.
DeShawn once again provided comedy tonight and for that I am grateful. He can’t do very much on a basketball court anymore. Back surgery has definitely limited what he can do. I really hope Dwight Howard’s back surgery won’t be as career changing because the Nets may have a chance to acquire him this summer.
Jordan Williams: 39:25 MIN, 5-13 FG, 10 PTS, 10 REB, -12. Grade: B+
Solid game from J Will. He needs to come to training camp in shape next season, if the Nets bring him back. He played almost the entire game.
Johan Petro: 39:15 MIN, 4-9 FG, 9 PTS, 12 REB. Grade: B
Those who wanted a large dose of Johan Petro certainly got it. Like J Will, he almost never saw the bench tonight. He earned yet another claim to fame tonight by scoring the last ever New Jersey Nets basket. He also scored the last ever Nets basket in New Jersey on Monday.