The Nets made a mockery of the Charlotte Bobcats in a second half where the Bobcats could only muster 25 total points. But as the saying goes, "You can't play the Bobcats every night."
The Nets had the good fortune of beating up on the NBA's worst team, 99-78, and further the Bobcats' misery. Charlotte has lost eight straight games and hold a 13-48 record.
On the other side, the Nets won their 35th game and are encroaching on the 41-win total of the 2006-07 New Jersey Nets. Brooklyn got healthy with positive performances from every starter.
Joe Johnson and Deron Williams paced the Nets, accounting for 42 of the Nets' 99 points. Brook Lopez delivered a ho-hum 16 points while Reggie Evans hauled in 16 rebounds.
Gerald Wallace played the ex-factor, haunting his former team with a typical game for the Nets small forward: eight points, eight rebounds, one highlight-reel dunk, and five blocked shots.
Those were the positives.
The Nets were not so fortunate in the first half. The struggles with ball control may very well have continued into the locker room long after the game concluded.
The Bobcats actually led by 10 points at halftime. Charlotte went for 53 points in the first 24 minutes despite being outscored 56-25 in the final 24 minutes.
"We played defense in the second half," head coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "We just defended so much better in the second half, it wasn't even funny."
The Nets exploded in the third quarter, outscoring the Bobcats, 28-9. Johnson's jumper 5:23 into the third capped a 16-3 run to open the quarter and gave the Nets a 59-56 lead. In less than half a quarter, the Nets had regained control of the game.
They did not have control of the ball, though.
The turnovers are a continuing concern for Carlesimo and the Nets, though. One game removed from 21 turnovers against the defensively stout Chicago Bulls, the Nets continued their carelessness.
The Nets turned the ball over 24 times against the league's third worst defense. Fortunately for Brooklyn, those 24 turnovers only translated into 16 points.
The Nets will not, however, have the luxury of playing the Bobcats in the playoffs. When the games slow down, those turnovers against the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, or Chicago Bulls will turn into points at the other end. And lots of them.
Such was the case in their 96-85 loss to the Bulls Saturday night in Chicago. The Nets' 21 turnovers Saturday led to 24 points, or 25 percent of the Bulls' offense.
Carlesimo has explored changes in the rotation recently, but the Nets will need to treasure the basketball as their schedule stiffens into the playoffs.
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