Some notes from yesterday's Nets Cavs Game 3:

• The first possession for both teams kinda dictated what was to come - the Cavs had to settle for a deep LBJ three pointer as the shot clock was winding down; Kidd grabbed the rebound, and Carter nailed an 18-footer.
• On the next possessions, LBJ made a driving layup, then Carter tried to make one of his own, but missed the layup, and then the tip.  Seeing both LeBron and Carter in the paint this early got my hopes up.  Sadly, it was just a mirage.  That's the problem/joy of these two players: they are all about the sporadic appearances of actually making the effort....
• Mikki Moore and Jason Kidd take over as the Nets go on a 12-2 run.  Mikki Moore is 3-4 with 6 points, an assist and a board in this mini-run; Kidd had two three pointers and two assists to Moore.

Coming off the timeout, LBJ immediately turns the ball over.  This would become a theme later on, too.  Vince Carter and RJ take over the Nets offense for a bit.

 At the end of the first, Kidd, Carter and Moore all had 6 points, plus Jefferson had 4, accounting for all the Nets points; LeBron had 6, the rest of the Cavs had 9.  It's 22-15 after one period, with Kidd also having 4 assists.  Jason Kidd and VC off to a good start, which makes us very confident about this game.

• The first three minutes of the 2nd quarter is more Vince: 2 points, plus two assists (to Nachbar and Jefferson).  Kidd then comes back into the game, and after 4 more Carter points, Vince feeds Kidd for a long three on the break to make it 37-25 with 6:37.
• At this point the Cavs go on a mini-run: LBJ for two, LBJ assist to Gooden, LBJ assist to cutting Ilgaukas for basket and one (37-32 Nets), LBJ misses a shot, LBJ assist to Gooden. 
  

After Gooden gets fouled on the next possession and hits two, it's 37-36 Nets with 3:00 to go and the Cavs on a 11-0 run.  Jefferson bricks a shot, then Hughes hits a big jumper to give the Cavs the lead.  Nachbar with a brick, then LBJ gets fouled and hits both. It's now 40-37 Cavs, who are on a 15-0 run spanning 4 minutes. 

• Jason Kidd then steps up and hits a big three (off a VC assist), then steals the ball from Hughes and gets fouled.  He hits both, and the Nets are back ahead 42-40.

LBJ, at a crucial moment, again misses a big shot (a long three).  Since when is LBJ a three point shooter?  After Hughes splits a pair of FT, Vince Carter with a pretty drive hits the shot and one.    45-41  Nets.  The half ends with LBJ getting another assist, this time to Hughes.  45-43 Nets at the half. 

Carter and Kidd had 8 points a piece that quarter.  Gooden and Ilgaukas scored 13 combined, almost exclusively off LBJ passes.  Hughes also added 7 of his own.  Despite his passing, LBJ has only 10 points at the half.  Kidd, Carter have 14 a piece.

• The third quarter opens with a Kidd jumper, then assists to Carter on a driving layup, then Jefferson on a driving layup, then Moore on a driving layup.  LeBron misses two shots in this span, and it is now 53-43 Nets.  We have to say it - right now there is no doubt we feel more confident about Kidd than LeBron in this series.
• After a couple of big jumpers by Hughes cuts the lead a bit, Kidd nails another big three.

The rest of the quarter is back and forth, with Jefferson taking over for a bit.  He had 11 points in the quarter on 3-4 FG, plus 4-4 FTs. Kidd went 4-5 FG (including the three).  LeBron had just 4, but did set up Gooden and Hughes a bit (13 points combined).  Still, it's Nets 73-64 at the end of three.

• After LeBron hits a three to cut it to 77-73, the Nets call timeout with 9:48 to go.  At this point LBJ misses a big three (still shooting more threes than driving - tell me what makes him different than Air Pussy, other than that he doesn't pull up lame with cramps?). 
  
• Ugh, a minute of bad shots and bad passes, and neither team scoring.  Still 77-73 with 8:26 to go.  Jason Kidd re-enters the game, though, so we expect the turnovers to go down.
• After a offensive interference by Moore (his third of the playoffs!), the Cavs miss another big opportunity to get closer, when LeBron turns it over.  7:26 to go.  Neither team has scored in over 2 minutes.
• Moore with a nice dunk off a RJ assist.
• LBJ with another missed three pointer.
• Kidd with a big rebound, and hits Vince for an 18-footer.  81-73 Nets.
• At the 5:31 mark, Kidd grabs another rebound (off a Hughes miss) and up ahead to Vince for a dunk.  83-73 Nets.  Cavs haven't scored in 4 minutes.
• Kidd to Jefferson (under basket) for two plus the foul.  85-73.

 And that about sums up how the Cavs lost Game 3.  Notice that aside from a few missed three pointers, LeBron was not doing much during the Nets' "jog" (it was really, really slow, so let's call it a run). 

This game once again proved that the best player in this series is still Kidd (23-12-13 final line).  LeBron, like Vince, can sometimes take over, but Kidd brings it every game (except for Game 1, when he was clearly off and tired).  Kidd is still averaging like a triple-double for the entire playoffs.  We like the Nets chances of evening up the series in Game 4.

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