Not many people expected the Nets to have the most productive backcourt in the NBA after having traded Jason Kidd. But that's exactly what Devin Harris and Vince Carter have become.
With their combined 47.5 points per game, Harris and Carter will have to be at their best tonight against the 11-1 Lakers tonight (YES, 10:30) as the 6-6 Nets begin a four-game West Coast trip. "Both those guys have done a great job of setting a tone from day one, establishing the personality of this team," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said yesterday.
Harris has been impressive in replacing the dynamic Kidd at point guard. The 25-year-old is averaging 23.2 points, which is 13 more than his career average. He's averaging 6.2 assists and has been getting to the free-throw line more than 11 times per game.
"It's not an easy task to do and he's doing a great job of it," Frank said of Harris' ability to draw fouls. "It's a function of his ability . . . The offense can create space and create gaps, but if you don't have the personnel and the mentality to attack the rim, it doesn't matter."
Getting to the free-throw line will be important against the Lakers, who have the fifth stingiest defense in the league, allowing 92.7 points per game. Led by Kobe Bryant, they lead the NBA in scoring with 105.9 points per game.
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Frank was upset by yesterday's firing of Eddie Jordan as Wizards coach.
"It's very disappointing," Frank said. "To do what he did last year, where you could've made an easy argument he should've been coach of the year. To come in this year with no Gilbert Arenas, no Brendan Haywood, a hurt Antonio Daniels, a banged-up DeShawn Stevenson.
"It wasn't like they were losing by 40 points a game, so he was doing a hell of a job and it's very, very disappointing that he won't be able to finish out what he started."
