Strong on the Windy City Glass
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The Nets entered their third game in as many nights on Monday knowing they'd need as much production as possible out of their bench.
Johan Petro stepped up to the challenge, tallying a season-high six rebounds to go along with four points for New Jersey. But the Nets couldn't overcome another poor start in Chicago and fell to the league-best Bulls, 110-95, in the final game of a back-to-back-to-back.
Johan grabbed a season-high six boards off the bench on Monday night in Chicago (Getty Images).
The Nets were even more shorthanded than usual on Monday as MarShon Brooks was a last-minute scratch with an Achilles injury. With that in mind, Coach Avery Johnson applauded his team's effort to hang in despite many obstacles.
"We've been survivors. We've had to survive a lot: injuries, just playing bad offense. Inconsistent defense, different rotations," Johnson said. "So they've done a nice job of hanging in there and our spirit has been good. I see it in shootaround. I feel it in the locker room when I'm addressing them. But I think they're survivors and they've been really good in terms of having the right type of spirit. They're not a team that has the type of spirit where they feel sorry for themselves."
After sitting in two of New Jersey's three home games last week, Johan showed that spirit as he answered the call on Monday. He entered the game for Mehmet Okur with 4:54 left in the first quarter and the Nets trailing by 10. In the final four minutes of the first, Johan grabbed a defensive rebound off a missed Chicago free throw and another off a missed 3-pointer.
No. 27 re-entered the game with one-minute left before the half and in the final seconds he stole the rebound after Rip Hamilton missed a 3-pointer. The Nets deficit at halftime was 16.
Johan sat out the third, but responded to the call again in the fourth quarter. In the final twelve minutes of the game, JP passed out two dimes and had three rebounds. No. 27 also made back-to-back baskets for New Jersey in the final four-minute stretch of the game, showing that never-say-die attitude that his coach was so proud of.
NEXT UP
The Nets three-game road trip continues on Wednesday as No. 27 and the Nets head to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. EST and the game can be seen on YES.
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