By InsideHoops.com

Brief notes from April 17, after the Nets loss to the Pistons:

Despite a few meaningless losses, the Nets rock. Nets fans, however, disappointed me last night. It was the final regular season home game in New Jersey, and instead of staying till the final buzzer and giving this team the tremendous standing ovation that they deserved, most fans piled out a good 30 seconds to 2 minutes before the game was over, to rush home to watch the evening news or Blind Date on UPN or whatever. Jason Kidd thanked fans after the game, but most of them had already left, and the ones that were still there barely noticed. The Nets players, management and entire organization, deserve much praise. Their future is bright. Hopefully fans figure this out and act accordingly. This is the most fun basketball to come to the NY area in many, many years. Show some love!

Anyway, Inside Hoops salutes the New Jersey Nets for a great regular season.

A full Nets report coming in a day or so.

-Jeff

April 16 (morning)

The Nets have won the East, but that doesn't mean they can coast their way into the playoffs. Byron Scott won't have it. And he shouldn't.

Giving ample time to the bench against Toronto, the Nets found themselves placing no effort into the game, and losing big. Nevertheless, the idea wasn't to get destroyed. It was simply to rest the good guys and give the lesser guys more time.

No big deal. Consider it a one-game vacation.

Tonight, the Central Division champion Detroit Pistons visit New Jersey. This game matters, because it's quite possible that these two teams meet down the road in the playoffs. At least, both teams hope that's the case. And this will be their final meeting until that happens.

As for the guys who play the games, Todd MacCulloch is again on the injured list with a bum foot. He may be done until the playoffs begin. Aaron Williams and Jason Collins will have to step up in his absense, as they did for the games he already missed. They're used to this, so the team should be able to adjust.

Kenyon Martin, who had a death in his family, may miss tonight's game. Richard Jefferson will have to step up in his absense. Martin typically guards the other team's small forward, and defense is one of Jefferson's best attributes.

Jefferson also has true star potential. Not simply a player who will fill in holes, Jefferson has that pogo-stick jumping ability that Martin, and actual star players, have. Jefferson has a unique combination of ball-handling, quickness, strength, and said leaping ability. And, he can shoot. The kid has all the potential in the world.

Keith Van Horn needs to improve on the same thing now as in the past, consistent shooting. When Keith puts the ball up, it's almost always a gamble. He gets open shots. It's up to him to knock them down one night, and then the next.

Kenyon Martin's temper control problems have been overhyped. Ball control is a bigger issue.

Inside Hoops will follow the Nets playoff race.

Tonight: Pistons @ Nets. Wednesday: Nets @ Knicks. (End of Regular Season)