Nets coach Lawrence Frank was asked before the game in Toronto Friday if Richard Jefferson gets enough credit and attention, especially with all the glare focused on Jason Kidd and Vince Carter.
“People who watch us every day understand the value and how good Richard is,” Frank said. “Richard has worn so many different hats for us.”
And for those who just watched the Nets Friday night, they also saw and understood.
Jefferson went off for 35 points – grabbing 11 rebounds and recording five assists along the way – as the Nets put the Big Three formula to perfect use, along with some stepped-up defense and rebounding. So with Jefferson wearing the hats of a scorer, rebounder and passer, the Nets blended everything together for a 102-92 victory in Toronto, the first segment in a back-to-back set that concluded last night in the Meadowlands against the Bulls.
“I just got good looks and they kept feeding me the ball,” said Jefferson, who shot 9-of-17, including 5-of-8 on 3s, and also had a 12-of-14 night at the line. “If you look at a lot of my shots, most of them were assisted by my teammates. It was just a matter of me getting open and them feeding me the ball.”
And Jefferson hitting the shot which wasn’t always wasn’t a given.
“From Day One when he first was here, he couldn’t shoot from five feet. Everything was a dunk,” Kidd said. “That’s not disrespecting him. He’s put in the time and the effort in the gym, and he showcased that again and he’s going to showcase it throughout the season.”
Said Jefferson, “Every year I try to get better, and I tried to get better in my shooting and every year my numbers have gone up.”
For the Nets, the offense worked through Carter and worked effectively, despite 21 turnovers. See Vince. Get the ball to Vince. See Vince doubled. See Vince find an open man.
“Vince is so unselfish, he finds the open guy. Whether it’s RJ or myself [whomever], somebody’s going to be the recipient,” Kidd said.
“It’s easy to play on this team,” Carter said after the Toronto victory, the Nets’ first of the season. “RJ was playing well, and J-Kidd got going. I was just enjoying the show. I didn’t have a problem sitting back and just watching. But coach wanted me to keep being involved, keep me aggressive.”
So Carter kept passing. And Jefferson kept hitting. And for Jefferson, it was extra sweet after he was ejected late in the first game, although he insisted that did not serve as any added motivation.
“I let the team down in a small way. I was a little disappointed that we lost and getting thrown out,” Jefferson said. “I wasn’t coming in trying to prove anything. That is probably the worst thing you can do: force the issue. But they got me going and I played through my teammates.”
That’s pretty much how the Big Three plan is drawn up – all working in concert but able to go individually if the others are off their game. Jefferson ignited the offense early with 15 first-quarter points, Kidd scored 11 of the Nets’ first 14 in the third quarter and then Carter had 10 points in the fourth quarter – when Jefferson added 13.
“On any given night, you never know [who the star will be],” Jefferson offered. “I don’t need the ball in my hands at all times. I haven’t played like that the majority of my career. I don’t want to play like that. I enjoy playing through my teammates and with my teammates.”
e-mail: [email protected]