Nets Blow Chance to Win Series; Head Back to Motown

Richard Hamilton; Photo: Vincent Laforet/NY Times

Last night, the Nets took their hard earned victory on Friday night and fouled it all up by losing to the Pistons, 81-75 (box score). Now, they return to the place of their worst playoff performance, a place they needed three overtimes to win, and to face a team that has momentum. The Nets started the game with a 13-2 run, but the quick lead vanished by the end of the half when the Pistons led, 50-36. In the second half, the Nets fought back coming as close as two points with under two minutes left in the game, but they could not even the score. Richard Hamilton led all players with 25 points including a clutch jump shot over Jason Kidd to put Detroit up 4 with 15.5 left in the game.

Now the Nets are in Game 7, their first since joining the NBA, hoping to earn a chance to defend their Eastern Conference Title, hoping that they can win in front of the rowdy Palace crowd. Gothamist also hopes that they win because we really need our Vernors fix. Despite the pre-series talk about the possibility of this becoming a 7-game series, who would have thought that a series that started so ugly could get so far. Game 7 is Thursday night on ESPN.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By tien mao on May 17, 2004 9:52 AM

Comments [rss]

tom

mmmmm... vernors. spicy nectar of life.

Go Pistons!

Uncle Grambo

game on, y'all!

tien

moe, that would have been the scoop of the century if it were true. that said, your courtside observances are always welcome here.

moegolden

I'm told Strahan and the sportscaster, Bonnie Bernstein simply live in the same town, Montclair.

No cheating apparently. sorry sir, please don't kill me.

moegolden

Maybe Strahan's lady friend is simply his wife's good friend, I don't know. I am almost sure the wife was there yesterday. I doubt he's cheating, because he's been seen with the sportscaster in a few public settings.

here are some more pics (including Bruno)

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/CFW/imageResults.aspx?s=ImagesSearchState|0|15|0|1|||0|0|0|0|7|nets&p=7

Jen

Oooh, thanks, moe! Why was Bruno on his knees? I suppose his babe Brooke wasn't there? Gandolfini is a Jersey guy, so I'm glad to know that he's supporting the Nets. I also love that Jay-Z's buddy was in the ref's face. Classic.

And isn't Michael Strahan married? Dunh dunh dunh!

moegolden

apologies - "P. Diddy" should have read, "noted stage actor Sean Combs". The Times regrets its error.

moegolden

Depressing ending, no doubt, but at times it was definitely as loud as I have ever heard the place.

Anyhow, here's the courtside scoop from last night.

Bruce Willis was given prime seats, but twice politely deferred walking back to them (and presumably getting in the way of people's view of game action)until timeouts. He knelt three feet in front of me in the vestibule. He was with a burly guy, possibly a friend from his youth (definitely not a bodyguard). Bruce wore a gas-attendant-style "Paladins" tour shirt from a show that happened at the Continental Cafe last week. while he was kneeling before me (he was), I blurted out that I liked his "Bruno" blues work, but I don't think he heard me.

Interestingly, last night was the first time I Jay-Z really act like a partisan Nets fan, outwardly cheering and such. His buddy was in the ref's face a few times.

I shared a restroom break with one Michael J. Fox, who is very short. It was good to see that he wasn't too jittery at all at the game.

Sources told me with certainty that Beyonce, P. Diddy and James Gandolfini were given tickets, but none of them were seen courtside or shown on tv. Gandolfini supposedly just likes to blend in.

The same source also said that a legendary old-school rapper (through his agent) refused tix when told the best they could get him was second row of the lower level. Since it's a status thing, he was insulted.

Also, Michael Strahan was there, but not with his rumored secret girlfriend, a high-profile female sportscaster.