The final NBA game in the Meadowlands went with no fanfare and no nostalgia. And the Nets era in the Swamp ended as it began almost three decades ago, with a loss.
With tomorrow’s game in Miami as the merciful coup de grace on this sorry season, the Nets dropped their penultimate game 105-95 to Charlotte. They trailed by double-digits much of the night, and at the final buzzer owner Bruce Ratner exited right past seven fans wearing bags of shame over their heads.
“We’re disappointed, losing the last game in Izod. But it’s been like that for us all year,” said point guard Devin Harris, who had a game-high 22 points. “We fought back in the third quarter, but couldn’t get enough stops. It felt good seeing the highlights all night of the old games. I was paying attention to that.”
The Nets (12-69) fell to the Knicks in their first game here on Oct. 30, 1981 — ironically the Nets were coached by now-Charlotte coach Larry Brown — and lost their last. They had a gathering of former executives in Suite 106, and sprinkled in old highlights of famous plays throughout the night. But they didn’t have a video montage, other than one of their first Meadowlands win and another honoring longtime employees.
Center Brook Lopez, who had 16 points, eight rebounds and will be the team’s foundation in their two-year layover in Newark and proposed moved to Brooklyn, addressed the crowd and thanked them for sticking with the team, but never mentioned that this was their swan song in the Swamp.
“It’s important to win every game, definitely the last game,” said rookie Terrence Williams, who had 21 points, 13 boards and six assists. “[Moving] isn’t going to wash [the recent losing] away, but it definitely helps, especially if you come out and play well and start winning. You start winning, it puts it in the back of peoples’ minds and go forward from there.”
With Lopez, Williams, a high lottery pick and cap space, the future is bright; but their present is still painful at times, like last night, trailing 59-44 by intermission. A 30-14 run, capped by Yi Jianlian’s follow, actually gave them a brief 74-73 lead, but their bench got outscored 50-4 and they wore out in the fourth.
“I was the first and last in this building. I don’t know if that’s a good thing though,” said Brown. “I hate to see the Nets leave New Jersey. [But] with that new building they’re going to, I heard it’s pretty special. But, we’ll see.”