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Nets trounce the Bobcats, 97-81, with Mikhail Prokhorov on hand

The Nets ended this one quickly, as they beat the Bobcats 97-81.

By Tom Lorenzo
Bruce Bennett

The P.J. Carlesimo era bagan tonight, as the Brooklyn Nets suited up against the Charlotte Bobcats. Prior to the start of the game Coach Carlesimo stressed that with little preparation in the post-Avery Johnson era, he wanted the team to focus on being aggressive in these next two games, rather than on the X's and O's. I suppose you can say "mission accomplished."

Brooklyn was certainly aggressive, to say the least, in the first quarter. They charged out to a 33-15 lead, shooting 55 percent from the floor and 3-of-6 from the 3-point line, while holding the Bobcats to 27-percent shooting, with four turnovers. Brook Lopez went for 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks in the first, while Deron Williams chipped in with nine points.

The Nets haven't had much trouble starting games, in fact the issue is more so how they close them -- or, better yet, how they respond to their opponent making a run.

Fortunately for them, that run never came in the first half -- or ever. The closest the Bobcats got was within nine points in the second quarter, and the Nets responded to carry a 56-38 lead into halftime.

Speaking at halftime to the media, Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov didn't let on that the Nets were close to finding a replacement coach for Avery, and wasn't even willing to budge at all on the details of any search. He continued to reiterate, "P.J. (Carlesimo) is our guy."

With the way the Nets responded to Prokhorov being in the building and the firing of Avery Johnson, it has certainly helped P.J.'s case going forward.

The Nets didn't falter in the third, as they've often been accustomed to, and were able to close out the Bobcats, 97-81.

Brook Lopez finished the game with 26 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 27 minutes, while 19 points, but just two assists, in 28 minutes.

You can see that this team was playing with some sense of urgency, whether it was a "we have something to prove" moment, or "the boss is in the house" performance. It also should be said that, yes, this win was against the Bobcats who are now losers of 17 straight games.

Up next for the Nets is a quick turnaround game, tomorrow night, against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For more on the Bobcats, see: Rufus on Fire

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