Yi is key to Nets comeback

Yi's aggression helped him against the Kings tonight (Bill Kostroun-AP)

Yi Jianlian is never going to be the focus of the Nets offense—or not anytime soon, anyway. He's best in a secondary role, waiting to drop a long jump shot or three-pointer, ripping down a board or contributing with a key block, or playing in the high post to create opportunities for Vince Carter.

He did all those things tonight, helping Carter and the Nets overcome a 12-point halftime deficit to beat the Sacramento Kings, 98-90. Yi had one of the best games of the season, scoring 22 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 assists. He scored 10 of those points in the third quarter, when the Nets turned the game around.

More importantly, his confidence grew throughout the game and his performance was far more physical than it has been of late. He was involved in several key rebounds, including a five-point Carter play that pulled New Jersey away for good.

After a Yi defensive board, the game was 84-82 Nets. Carter drove for a dunk and drew the foul, but missed the free throw. But Yi got a hand on it, tipped it to Josh Boone, who dished it to Carter behind the three-point line. Vince, wide open, paused and collected himself, then nailed the shot from downtown, giving the Nets a 89-82 lead.

Later, with the Nets leading 94-86, Yi stood his ground as Brad Miller tried to drive to the hoop. Yi challenged Miller's shot, blocking it and collecting the rebound. Seeing that kind of aggressive play from Yi is heartening for Asian-American sports fans, since Yi has struggled and often looked tentative out on the field. His minutes have wavered, dropping to around fifteen minutes four times in December, and only cracking thirty minutes four times. And before tonight, he'd only hit double-digits in scoring twice in the last seven games before tonight.

Scoring 22—second on the team only to Carter's 29—and setting a season high in rebounds is a particularly good sign, as is his 8-13 night from the floor. Tonight's double-double is only his third on the season, and putting together two nights of double-digit scoring may mean his game is rounding into shape. The only thing consistent about Yi this season has been his inconsistency, but another night like this should mean increased minutes (he played 32 tonight).

All of this comes at a good time, as Devin Harris tried to play on his strained hamstring tonight, but couldn't play more than 19 minutes. In the absence of their team's sparkplug, more attention will be focused on Carter; having a hot Yi should help draw some of that defensive attention away.

But Yi had better stay hot, or hope that Harris returns sooner and not later. After a soft spot in the next few games—when they play Memphis, Milwaukee, and Oklahoma City, the league's worst team—the Nets will face Boston twice, Portland, New Orleans, and San Antonio in the five games after that.