Jason Kidd Comes Out on Top Despite Boos from Nets' Fans

Jason Kidd, former Brooklyn Nets head coach and now head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, was booed during the start of the Nets game against Milwaukee Wednesday night at the Barclays Center, but he got the last laugh after stomping his former team in a triple OT 122-118 win. The Bucks had just beaten the other New York team a day before at home, and Kidd's intentions were to show off his young team to a possible new rival.

Kidd had Brandon Knight to thank, after the 22-year-old former Kentucky Wildcat missed a layup that forced his team to go into a second overtime. Knight clinched the tying 3-pointer in the second overtime and hit both free throws with 5.6 seconds to go in the third.

"My teammates trusted me to make the next shot to force a third overtime, so that's really what it's all about," Knight said, "and we stuck through it as a team."

In the arena where Kidd's retired jersey hangs high in the rafters, fans have yet to forgive him for leaving the Nets after only one season to take the coaching job for the Bucks. Kidd was booed and heckled as a traitor. One fan was even brave enough to shout out "you suck" during a pause in the singing of the national anthem. The heckler was heard throughout the arena, prompting other fans to laugh and cheer on.

Kidd, who went 44-38 in his only season as Nets coach was rumored to have left after a falling out with Nets management. Kidd left before the Nets could actually fire him, although Nets GM Billy King previously denied that he wanted to fire Kidd in December 2013—after losing 21 of their first 31 games last season. The Nets hired Kidd in June 2013--weeks after he retired as an NBA player.

While talking to the media on Wednesday after the game, Kidd poked fun at the fans, confident after his team's victory.

"It was a big character game for our young guys," Kidd said. "I have bad hearing anyways. So I thought whatever the greeting was, it's about the players. People don't pay to come see the coach, they come to see the guys play."

Bad hearing or not, the win was actually a "big character game" for Kidd.

Kidd seemed his normal self, sharing some laughs with Joe Johnson, and even made it clear that his last defensive play in the second OT was for Joe.

Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets Shooting guard/Small forward

Moments before the third overtime, Kidd let the Nets' bench know that he knew the play would be called for Johnson. And it was—but Johnson was unable to clinch a 2-pointer to win the game.

Johnson, known for his calm demeanor kept the focus on his team, pointing out the struggles the Nets are facing.

"We've got to find some ways somehow to get a win," Johnson said after the game. "When you're in a rut like this, it's tough. You've got to do all the little things. When you do get that win, it won't be certainly easy."

After returning home from a 0-3 West coast road-trip against the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trailblazers, the Brooklyn Nets hosted the ailing Miami Heat and delivered a dud. The Brooklyn Nets extended its losing streak to four, as the Heat prevailed 95-83.

The Nets regressed to (4-6) overall on the season while the Heat improved to (6-5).

Dwyane Wade Who?

The Heat star and 3-time NBA World-Champion missed his third-straight game due to a hamstring injury along with F Josh McRoberts who is also ailing with a blister on his left toe.

It didn't matter.

Lebron James didn't suit up because he is sporting another jersey.

Even free-agent signee Luol Deng was out with a wrist injury.

In their place, G Mario Chalmers, and Forwards Danny Granger and Shawne Williams were promoted to the starting lineup.

You would think the Nets should be able to take care of a Heat team missing their sizzle with Wade and other significant pieces collecting DNP's right?

The casual NBA fan would expect that these injuries would take away from the competition aimed in the Nets direction but in reality, the Heat gave the Nets all they could handle for the duration of the 48 minutes of play.

They showed up with the intent of ruining the first game of the Nets two-game homestand and they succeeded.

In the first half the Nets shot well from the field and from behind the arc, shooting 45% and 44% respectively.

Deron Williams led the charge getting off to a hot start from the field scoring the first seven points for the Nets in the first quarter complimented by backcourt mate Bojan Bogdanovic, the leading scorer at the half with nine points.

The first half featured a back & forth affair which favored the Nets as they entered the intermission period with a five-point advantage 43-38, courtesy of Bogdanovic converting a layup off of a feed from Williams.

Early on, things looked good for the Nets.

The Fans were into it, the Nets held multiple leads and life was good.

That was until the second half arrived in which the Nets forgot that there were two more quarters left to play because that's how they responded.

They were lethargic; passive, slow and unable to make shots.

They could've used the energizer bunny tonight.

The Brooklyn Bunch went with the flow and were unable to sustain their effort from the first half to the second.

The arrival of the second half triggered the Heat, as they answered the shortcomings of their poor shooting start (37.1% in the first half) in making a surge of their own.

It was an exhibition of the Heat's bench that took control of the second half proving why they can be a dangerous team in the East when healthy.

Former UConn Huskies two-time NCAA Champion G Shabazz Napier's play gave us flashes of why he was one of the best guards entering the 2014 NBA Draft, torching the Nets from deep, connecting on three of six three-point attempts for a bench-high 11 points.

Heat swing-man James Ennis provided highlight reel material converting plenty of dunks for the pleasure of the crowd as well as the many Heat fans in attendance, contributing 10 points.

The Nets didn't just have a bad third quarter, they had a bad second half.

The Heat outscored the Nets in the second half, 57-40.

What happened?

It all started in that third quarter.

With the Heat down 51-49 with 7:03 remaining, G Norris Cole delivered a three, giving the Heat a slight advantage up by one, 52-51.

Cole's three led to a 12-4 run in which the Heat and their offense peaked and never looked back.

The Nets offense just wasn't there and the weapons at their disposal misfired on too many occasions.

The NBA is a game of runs and the Nets had countless opportunities to change their fortunes in the fourth and deciding quarter.

With 5:45 remaining, Nets G Williams was sent to the charity strike and sank 1-2 free throws as the Nets deficit shrunk to four, 78-82.

The Nets would miss their next three field goals which translated to additional opportunities for the Heat in which they seized full-control of their fate and the game for good.

Bosh's 20 foot jump-shot improved the Heat's lead to six, 78-84, and Chalmers provided the icing on the cake with a 4-foot floater and two made free throws as the lead ballooned to eight, 88-80 with 1:58 remaining till the end of regulation.

Game, set and match.

The Nets had no answer especially from those of whom you would expect to come to the rescue with the game hanging in the balance.

Joe Johnson shot 2-9 from the field for six points in 36:41 minutes of play.

That's not enough.

Brook Lopez shot 2-8 from the field for five points in 21:37 minutes of play.

That's not enough either.

Role players Jarrett Jack and Mirza Teletovic showed signs of life combining for 26 points, scoring 15 and 11 respectively.

The only player on the roster who showed up for the Nets was Bogdanovic who poured in a team-high 22 points.

The victors boast five players in double-figures with G Mario Chalmers and Bosh leading the way scoring 22 and 15 respectively.

"It was a good win," said Chalmers following tonight's match-up. "Everyone did what they had to do."

Indeed.

If only we could say the same about the Nets.

"It's Just a tough loss," said Joe Johnson in the Nets locker-room after the game. "Defensively we had a lot of miscues, especially in the fourth."

Did they?

All I know is that once Johnson decided to express himself last week with comments regarding the team along the lines of "selfish play", the Nets have struggled.

They are 0-4 post Johnson's cry for obviously more touches.

Something internal is wrong with the team and the results are revealing.

Head Coach Lionel Hollins is also concerned with his team's production.

"It's been a concern since the beginning," says Lionel Hollins during his post-game press conference.

"I have to be patient myself, and we got to keep growing and growing and growing."

Hollins continued, "You know, for me, I want it to be done right and right away, but I'm also smart enough to understand-been around long enough to understand-that it takes time."

Just the mood in the locker-room alone was telling of the state of the Nets at this point in their season.

Johnson and Plumlee left immediately after briefly speaking with the media.

Jack also left without any communication with teammates.

The lights were dim although all of the lights were on if you catch my drift.

Hollins stated that the Nets have to keep growing. Right now growing doesn't seem to be in the Nets vocabulary.

The Nets will host Milwaukee in the second game of their home-stand and then embark on a three-game road trip challenging the hobbled Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champions in the San Antonio Spurs and the Philadelphia 76ers.

If the Nets fail to fix their internal problems quick, this season can turn into a distant memory soon and very soon.

The Nets are no better than their cross-town counterparts in the New York Knicks and that is saying something.

Wins can heal and melt the Nets problems away.

They need one immediately.

The Nets lost to an inexperienced Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night, and much of their 98-91 deficit is attributed to their weak finish in the fourth quarter. More than 16,000 fans gathered at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to do exactly what they do everything game---cheer their team on. But, in the final few minutes, Brooklyn re-emerged as the same ole Nets. Yes, I said it, re-emerged. Is there anything special about the Nets?

The Nets have been Brooklyn's home team going into the third season, and I'm still watching the same ole Nets. Whether they win or lose, they're still the same ole Nets. Whether or not they have five new players this season, topped with a new coach—they still look like the same ole Nets. Although Deron Williams is healthy now and Brook Lopez seems fine, they are still playing like the same ole Nets.

A healthier Brook Lopez said he was "very disappointed in [himself]" after scoring 10 points Wednesday night. Deron Williams, who finished with 19 points also even expressed his disappointment for how they "closed out the game," but hopes to gain a win againt the Knicks when they play each other for the first time this season on Friday.

I mean, it's still early in the season, right? Although Williams' ankles looked healthy Wednesday, it makes me wonder if he still is the hero of the team. D-Will is undoubtedly Brooklyn's best player and it's evident that his teammates feed off his energy. But the question is, is Williams the best player by default? Is Williams a Derrick Rose, or even a Chris Paul? Back when Williams played for the Utah Jazz, there was much hype about him being one of the best point guards in the league, but can that argument even be supported today? Why are the Nets so reliant of Williams?

In order for the Nets to revitalize and rejuvenate, they need to reinvent their leader of the team. Joe Johnson needs to be more consistent, and the pressure on D-Will needs to be lifted. Otherwise, we'll keep seeing the same ole Nets.

Nets Beat Back Thunder 116-85

Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are out for the Oklahoma City Thunder which means the Brooklyn Nets will catch a break in their home opener right?

Wrong.

"It's another NBA game and a game that counts," rookie forward Cory Jefferson said to What's The 411TV prior to the tip-off. "They are missing some of their key players but we still have to go out there and handle business."

He's absolutely right.

The Nets can't take anybody for granted. It doesn't matter what the current roster of their opponents reflect. In their regular season home opener, the Nets did the right thing. They took care of the hobbled Thunder 116-85 in front of a sellout crowd of 17,732 at the Barclays Center.

That's what they were supposed to do.

It was also a star-studded home opener which included Grammy award-winning R&B recording artist Ashanti, who sang the national anthem and hip hop artist Fabolous was also present announcing the starting lineups for the Brooklyn Nets.

Regarding the contest tonight, this wasn't a break for the Nets, it was a vacation, target practice, whatever "easy street" activity you would like to call it.

What's significant for the Nets and their personnel was the fact that this was the regular season debut for Nets center Brook Lopez, who sat out the first two games of the season with a sprain in his right mid-foot. Lopez contributed 18 points and six rebounds, an encouraging performance.

The Nets scored early and often and reminded the Thunder what the presence of stars like Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are capable of producing, when healthy.

In the first half, Williams and Johnson combined for 20 points.

Lopez in his first action of the season added seven points and four rebounds while rookie guard Bojan Bogdanovic provided some marksmanship from deep, connecting on two three-pointers scoring 8.

Eight of the ten available players for the Nets all scored as the Nets entered the intermission period up by a comfortable 19 points, 59-40.

Yes, almost 60 in 24 minutes of play.

When it's not your night, it shows and the Thunder made it very obvious that Durant and Westbrook are desperately needed if this team is to have any shot of competing in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

"We did a lot of good things in the first three games, and we didn't do that tonight," said Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks following tonight's game.

In the last two deciding quarters, more of the same continued.

The Nets were the favorites in this match-up and they played like it.

In the third quarter alone, the Nets enjoyed leads of +14, +18 and +23.

With 42.8 remaining in the third quarter, Deron WIlliams participated in a defense to offense sequence that just displayed the dominance the Nets enjoyed on both ends of the floor.

Off of a Williams missed three-point shot attempt, the Thunder's Kendrick Perkins collected the rebound and one bad pass later was intercepted by Williams who converted an uncontested layup which put the Nets up 85-62.

It was that kind of night, and with the offensive success the Nets enjoyed, the starters were able to rest for the majority of the 4th quarter as the bench finished off the remains of what was left of the Thunder.

Williams finished with 17 points and nine assists while Joe Johnson supplied 13 points and six rebounds.

Reggie Jackson was the lone high scorer for the Thunder recording 23 points.

Look, the Thunder are a shell of themselves right now and although this outcome was expected there are some legitimate positives that the Nets can take from this performance and apply it to the future games they will confront.

Positives like Brook Lopez exiting this game among the top two overall scorers for the Nets tonight along with reserve guard Alan Anderson, who also chipped in with an efficient 7-8 shooting from the field for 18 points.

"It was great seeing him out there," Nets forward Joe Johnson said about Lopez to the media following the game. "I think his presence alone opens up the floor a lot more for guys like myself and Deron, and he looked great tonight."

Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets Shooting guard/Small Forward

Positives like the bench scoring 50 points to compliment the starting five in a rout.

"Our bench was amazing for us tonight," Williams said in the post-game media sessions. "To come out of the game and get a lift from our bench, that's what we need."

Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets Point Guard

Positives like shooting 52.4% from the floor, 47.8% from behind the arc and connecting for 89.5% from the charity strike.

"We shot the ball extremely well," said Head Coach Lionel Hollins during his post-game press conference. "We moved the ball, we attacked and they just couldn't stay up with us."

Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Lionel Hollins

And, one more positive was the exploits of rookie starting guard Bojan Bogdanovic, hailing from Croatia.

"He played well and he was much more aggressive tonight" said Head Coach Lionel Hollins about Bogdanovic. "I have confidence in him and I want him to play his game."

The Thunder coming to town also meant the return of Brooklyn's own, Sebastian Telfair now starting for the Thunder due to injuries of Durant and Westbrook.

"It felt good before the game started," Telfair told the media during the post-game sessions. "It is always good to come back to my roots, playing in front of my family and for some of my fans."

The biggest takeaway the Nets can use from this game and apply to their future opponents is confidence.

The offense flourished.

The defense denied any offensive consistency.

Tonight was evidence of what the Nets are capable of when they are clicking on all cylinders.

The challenge is to do their due diligence when playing a team that shares the same aspirations in team goals that they promote.

The Nets will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, November 5, the New York Knicks on Friday November 7th and the Orlando Magic on Sunday, November 9th. Following this home stand is a west-coast road-trip featuring the Phoenix Suns, the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trail Blazers.

How will the Nets respond to the teams on its West Coast swing?

That will be an important stretch to see how these Nets measure up against some of the best teams the NBA has to offer.

The Nets won this game because it was what they were supposed to do. However, the games scheduled in the coming weeks will be telling.

Only then will we see what the Nets are really made of.

Does Your Child Have What it Takes?

The Brooklyn Nets are seeking a kid emcee between the ages of 6-12 years old to co-host with Brooklyn Nets emcee, Ally Love, at weekend Brooklyn Nets home games at the Barclays Center.

Please send head shots, resumes, and reels to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Wednesday, October 29, 2014, to be considered for this position.

In this video What's The 411Sports reporter, Gregory Alcala gives his account of Brooklyn Nets Media Day, which was held on Friday, September 26, at the Brooklyn Nets Practice Facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Greg told the What's The 411Sports panel of Bianca Peart, Glenn Gilliam, and Chris Graham that the themes of the day focused on health, motivation, and redemption. The Brooklyn Nets players appeared to be revitalized and ready to go. Brook Lopez is ready to play without restrictions, Deron Williams feels some improvement, and to a man, the respect for Lionel Hollins is palpable.

Watch Video About Brooklyn Nets Media Day

Kevin Garnett told the vast number of reporters in attendance that head coach Lionel Hollins has a presence, and as Hollins was the first member of the Nets franchise available for the press, I acknowledged exactly what Garnett was referring to. Hollins' press conference wasn't just filled with the generic "This is what we're going to do..." soliloquy, it was honest, very honest, straight forward, and relaxed. Hollins is a stand-up guy and answered every question from a relaxed state, as if he is incapable of being rattled. When asked how he was going to deal with the personality of one Deron Williams, who has been labeled "a coach killer,"

Hollins's simply answered with a smirk: "I have the reputation of being a player killer...".

Hollins wasn't just insightful regarding what he has in-store for this current blend of veterans and journey-men, he was actually quite funny.

Check out Greg's full article here.

I've been waiting for the fall season for a reason. This particular time of the year is usually associated with leaves on trees changing colors, the beginning of yet another academic calendar and the resolution of summer. For me personally, it means NBA basketball is back! The Brooklyn Nets kicked off its media day at the Nets Practice Facility in East Rutherford, NJ on Friday, September 26th. It was clear, it is a new day in Nets land. Nothing but positive messages filled the air on a beautiful day revolving around all things Brooklyn Nets, and I was a part of that experience.

Newly-appointed head coach Lionel Hollins addressed the media first followed by Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez. The remaining players on the roster spoke in groups of four, separated by 10-15 minutes each.

No one was allowed to shy away from the microphone, as this day was for the media. During his press conference, Kevin Garnett told the vast number of reporters in attendance that head coach Lionel Hollins has a presence, and as Hollins was the first member of the Nets franchise available for the press, I acknowledged exactly what Garnett was referring to. Hollins' press conference wasn't just filled with the generic "This is what we're going to do..." soliloquy, it was honest, very honest, straight forward, and relaxed. Hollins is a stand-up guy and answered every question from a relaxed state, as if he is incapable of being rattled. When asked how he was going to deal with the personality of one Deron Williams, who has been labeled "a coach killer,"

Hollins's simply answered with a smirk: "I have the reputation of being a player killer...".

Hollins wasn't just insightful regarding what he has in-store for this current blend of veterans and journey-men, he was actually quite funny.

In referring to what has impressed him the most from the group of guys at his disposal during early scrimmages, Hollins expressed that the most impressive thing from these scrimmages was that he himself looked good coaching from the sidelines, which was received well from the media correspondents. On a serious note, Hollins shared his coaching thought process, indicating a system that involves everyone, as well as, highlighting that he likes the fact that his team has a number of guys with experiences and accomplishments that he can rely on to be in the forefront and lead. The keyword in the discussion of the team for Hollins is toughness. Hollins articulated that he wants his team to be tougher, more aggressive and compete harder. This should not serve as a shock coming from a residential Western Conference Head Coach for the majority of his coaching career.

One person who symbolizes toughness is Kevin Garnett who seemed upbeat, prepared for the season while noting that although he is entering his 20th season, there is still something worth playing for.

"The mindset has to be Championship or nothing..." Garnett said during his conference session.

Garnett still believes he has something to offer at the tender age of 38 but noted that the Nets success will solely be based on the core three guys in D-Will, Lopez and Johnson. The main focus of D-Will's conference session was health, which at this point in his career is essential to any success the Nets hope to enjoy this season. Williams is recovering from ankle surgery on both of his ankles, an injury that affected his performance the previous year which might've been his most disappointing.

"I don't think I'm 100% yet just because I've only had one month but, I'm pretty close," Williams said. "I'm getting strength. I'm getting confidence on it, I've played 5-on-5. I feel like I'm at least 20% better than I was all of last year."

On the new head coach: "He's going to be great for us in what we're trying to do here and I'm excited to play for him," Williams said.

Johnson, the team's second leading scorer also weighed in on coach Hollins hoping that he is the primary voice for this team going forward into the future.

"This is my third year here, and every year we start with a different coach," Johnson said. "Hopefully this one turns out a little better with us getting off to a great start."

Johnson also took a playful shot at former head coach Jason Kidd hinting that they hardly practiced at all. It will be the exact opposite with Hollins, as he plans to challenge guys and put them in tough situations during their practice sessions.

The most integral member of the Nets starting-5 in Lopez, scheduled to speak to the media last provided the answers to questions that the media in general all shared.

When asked how his body felt, Lopez stated: "I feel great right now, I'm not looking for any restrictions, I'm just ready to go."

For Nets fans, that should be encouraging. He also talked about what coach Hollins expects of him as a center, which is an enhanced effort in rebounding the basketball.

"It's just a matter of increasing my effort," Lopez said. "It's not just boxing out but going to get the rebound after and focusing on offensive rebounding."

All in all, the core pieces of the Nets franchise which includes coach Hollins revealed how much of a responsibility it is to be who they are having their own press conferences while the remaining players of the Nets roster held their media sessions on four tables positioned outside of the press conference space. Johnson described newly acquired point guard Jarrett Jack as the x-factor of this team, and while he was available I asked what he believes he can bring to this roster.

"Just energy man," Jack said. "I think pushing the pace, trying to get easier quicker baskets in transition or off turnovers, I think that is something that I can provide."

Brooklyn Nets point guard Jarrett Jack

I also asked Jack how he felt when he received the news that he was coming here to which he replied: "I was happy, I was all smiles," Jack said. "I think as basketball players we all wonder about playing in a big city, under the bright lights, in NY so I was chomping at the bit to get this opportunity."

Very rarely do you hear athletes state the desire to play in New York and with his answer I have to take Jack for his word. Mason Plumlee, now a gold medalist talked about his summer competing in Spain but targeted Vegas, Chicago and NY as the best part of the trip. Plumlee added that those three locations tested him the most as he was one player in a large group of NBA hopefuls battling each other for a roster spot on Team USA, a situation that you cannot simulate. Due to that experience alone, Plumlee is a player to watch for the Nets going forward. Plumlee is also looking forward to playing under Hollins with the ambition of becoming a better NBA player.

The Nets finished 44-38, second in the Atlantic division under first-year head coach Jason Kidd. Under the guidance of Hollins I believe the Nets will be revamped. They will be rejuvenated. They will have a viable opportunity in playing for first place in the Atlantic Division, but it all boils down to the same individuals who held their media session ahead of everyone else. There's a reason why Hollins, Garnett, Lopez, Johnson, and D-Will were scheduled ahead of the rest of the roster in a secluded area stationed on the Nets practice court. They are the core pieces to which this franchise has built its foundation on. The Nets can't progress if Lopez doesn't have a bounce back year, which I believe he will. Lopez was the leading scorer for the Nets last season albeit missing the majority of the season, averaging 20.7 points, better than D-Will and Johnson. Go figure. The Nets can't progress if Johnson is incapable of reminding us why he is a 7-time All-Star. Johnson averaged 15.8 points per game last season, his lowest points total since his 4th year as a pro. D-Will has to prove he is healthy and Garnett has to keep his commitment to the Nets all while sustaining his health. Last but not least, Hollins has to prove that he can corral this group for the greater good, and from listening to his words, I have no doubts that he will be successful. These are exciting times in the NBA world and on the east coast for one particular team, it all began on Friday, September 26th at the Nets Practice facility in East Rutherford, NJ. That team is the Brooklyn Nets.

Newly-minted Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins was on hand to support the team's point guard Deron Williams' 5th Annual Celebrity Dodge Barrage. Held at Basketball City near the South Street Seaport, the charity event is Williams' signature fundraising event to support the Point of Hope Foundation.

Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams talking with reporters at his 5th Annual Celebrity Dodge Barrage. Photo Credit: Clyde Davis/What's The 411 Networks

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Point of Hope Foundation and Brooklyn's League Education and Treatment Center which will utilize the funds to expand the existing playground that will be named the Deron Williams Playground after completion.

Brooklyn Nets teammates that were in the house included Jarrett Jack, Andrei Kirilenko, and FIBA World Cup gold medalist Mason Plumlee. This was Mason's second year at the dodge ball charity event and he fully expected to be a repeat dodge ball champion.

WATCH VIDEO WITH COACH HOLLINS