Chris Douglas-Roberts hits New Jersey Nets' 'rookie wall'

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on January 25, 2009 at 12:35 AM, updated January 25, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Chris Douglas-Roberts has been victimized by a knee injury and freshman inconsistency.


MEMPHIS -- John Calipari's Tigers rule this town, so there isn't much about Chris Douglas-Roberts that people around here don't already know.

But the Nets' fourth guard from Memphis did share this revelation when the subject of the rookie wall was raised Saturday night: He didn't know there was a game Saturday night against the Grizzlies.

"We just talked about it," Douglas-Roberts said, referring to fellow rookies Ryan Anderson and Brook Lopez. "We didn't even know we had a game (Saturday). I know we were going to Memphis, but I didn't know the game was (Saturday). I thought it was (Sunday). That's the rookie wall right there.

"You don't even know where you're playing, you wake up in some hotel room, you don't know where you are or where you're going. That's what it is -- that's the rookie wall. It's tough, even for me."

Not so tough, really: Douglas-Roberts, who had played only 144 minutes all year, entered the game to an enthusiastic reception two plays into the second quarter, and had his first shot blocked by Darius Miles. But he scored on his next three touches -- a reverse double-pump, a 19-foot baseliner, and an up-the-ladder jumper to help the Nets maintain their distance on their way to a 99-88 victory.

Douglas-Roberts' accuracy from the perimeter undoubtedly impressed the boss, because it was a subject that came up in pregame.

"The key with Chris is, can he make a jump shot?" team president Rod Thorn said. "If you're going to be a 15- or 20-minute player, you have to be able to make an open jump shot. He's more of a driver. If you play 30 minutes, you can get 12 points that way. But if you're a 15-minute player, you have to make open shots. I haven't seen that he can do that."

Meanwhile, Anderson had his best game since taking over the starting four-spot from Yi Jianlian. After averaging 6.7 points (.381 shooting) and 5.7 rebounds in his first six starts, he nearly had a double-double (12 points, nine boards) in only 22 minutes, and the vast majority of those numbers were produced through second-effort plays.

Still, after working so hard in the first half, Lawrence Frank actually called Anderson's number to start the third period, and he delivered with an overhead score. Then he hit two jumpers -- a 20-footer and a homer -- to spark a rally that produced a 10-point lead.

But even if he didn't produce, Frank was not considering moving Eduardo Najera into the starting lineup.

"I want to continue to see if Ryan can do it before pulling the cord," the coach said before the game. "Eduardo has done great, and he's comfortable in his role. I'm just hoping through time and learning and experience that Ryan will start to do the things he's capable of doing."

Weird number of the road trip: In the past two games, the Nets have committed a grand total of 12 turnovers. They had a franchise record-low five in San Antonio (four by Devin Harris, one shot-clock violation), and seven against the Grizz (zero for Harris).

"In my 47 years in the NBA, I've never seen one guy have all the individual turnovers for a team," Thorn said.