By InsideHoops.com

Sunday afternoon the Philadelphia 76ers visited Atlantic division rival New Jersey Nets. Coming into the game, Philly is 38-26, while the Nets are 40-25. Lately, the 76ers have been hot, while the Nets are trying to regain form. Below are raw, unedited, editorial-style game notes from Continental Airlines Arena.

Stu Jackson is here, sitting in the crowd about 10 rows up from the court, behind the scorer's table. To get an up-close look at Allen Iverson in considering him for the U.S. Olympic team, perhaps?

Dikembe Mutumbo shot around before the game. He'll be practicing again pretty soon.

During pre-game player introductions, Philly's Keith Van Horn, who was a very key member of last year's Nets team, got decent recognition from the fans. No spectacular cheer, no booing either. Allen Iverson got a noticible cheer. It sounded like it came from female fans.

Coming into this game, Philly is 38-26. The Nets are 40-25.

Derrick Coleman is in spectacular shape. For real.

The first Philly shot of the game was an open Eric Snow jumper created by Allen Iverson, who had gotten free thanks to a Derrick Coleman pick. The shot missed, however. Next Philly possession was Van Horn isolated down low, working alone. He missed, but put in his own rebound.

New Jersey up 6-2.

Tyrone Hill just unleashed the most ugly set of post moves I've ever seen. And by ugly, I do mean ugly. In a bad way. Like what the tall kid at the park who has never played basketball but just saw an old tape of Kevin McHale tries to do.

Allen Iverson with a steal around mid-court. Don't even think about preventing his upcoming layup. Don't do it. Jason Kidd wisely didn't. Layup.

Van Horn shooting free throws. Some boos when he shoots, but noticible cheers - soft and in the background, but still noticible - when he hits.

The Nets are scoring quickly and easily. Nets 10 Sixers 6 with 8:30 to go in the first quarter.

Iverson with another steal. The little bugger is fast.

Booties in Motion, formally known as Power in Motion, the Nets dancers, performed just their first booty-shake of the afternoon. Lousy outfits.

The first substitution of the game for the Nets is Brian "pizza delivery guy" Scalabrene, in for Richard Jefferson.

The first substition for the Sixers is Kenny Thomas, in for Tyrone "ain't pretty" Hill.

Keith Van Horn is off to a fast start, with 11 points in the first 8 minutes. He's doing it inside, outside and in the middle. Sounds like a player who could help the Nets.

Kerry Kittles started quickly for the Nets, with 10 points in the first 9 minutes.

Aaron McKie constantly runs, chases everyone around the floor, forces everyone to chase him as well, sets a million screens, boxes out so a teammate can grab a board, and finishes with almost no stats, yet definitely helps his team win.

Aaron Mckie with a leaning three-pointer at the first quarter buzzer.... swish. End of the first quarter it's Sixers 27 Nets 25.

Brian "poor man's Aaron Williams" Skinner is in the game.

With 9 minutes left in the second quarter, it's Nets 30 Sixers 27.

Keith "don't like sunlight" Van Horn is back in.

Aaron McKie is really ineffective when actually handling the basketball. He should stick to setting picks, running the one-man weave, and shooting quick open shots.

The best timeout activity the Continental Airlines arena offers, besides Booties in Motion, is showing bloopers on the big screen. If Inside Hoops ran things, every timeout would feature dancing booties or big-screen NBA bloopers.

The hottest event at each Nets is when during a timeout fans jump up and scream like crazy for the chance to win a t-shirt. Kidd to Martin for an insane alley-oop is great, but for fans in the stands it doesn't come close to comparing the thrill of having a 1 in 500 chance at catching a free t-shirt.

No sooner said than done. Right after I typed the above paragaph, the very next play was Kidd to Martin for a sick alley-oop. Fan dug it. But it's no free t-shirt.

When sitting down with about 5 minutes to go in the second quarter, Keith Van Horn gave Kerry Kittles a little shove while watching to the bench.

Jason Collins sees the cutter. Kittles cut, Collins hit him with a perfect pass for a reverse layup.

With about 2 minutes to go in the first quarter, Kenny Thomas grabbed a rebound, and then almost had his arm torn off by Kenyon Martin. A ref was 5 feet away, watching it, but called nothing.

Eric Snow at the buzzer from 2-point range... good. Two quarters, two buzzer-beaters.

At the half it's Nets 52 Sixers 41.

Allen Iverson deserves credit for his defense. While his small size puts him at a disadvantage when his man brings it inside or posts up, he's constantly moving his feet, keeping his arms up and out, clogging passing lanes, and trying to make things difficult.

Booties in Motion came out with 4:40 to go in the third quarter, wearing white tight pants, silver boots and silver tops. Good outfits. Good song. Quality booty-shaking.

Jason Kidd hit a forced three from the corner with the shot-clock running down to make it Nets 67 Sixers 60.

Allen Iverson with another steal, for a fast break, but a split-second later, Jason Kidd stole Iverson's pass.

Make no mistake that while this is definitely Allen Iveson's team, the Sixers right now are playing like a total team. The ball-movement is pretty good, the passes are very crisp, and players know where their teammates are on the floor. Highly efficient.

At the third quarter buzzer, Aaron McKie shoots..... miss, and it was after the buzzer so it wouldn't have counted. Buzzer-beating streak ends at two.

At the end of the third quarter it's Nets 72 Sixers 70.

Booties in Motion are now throwing t-shirts into the stands. Some are on roller skates. They're now wearing red tights. Booties on Wheels.

The "Lets Go Nets!" guy who comes and stands at the front of one of the upper sections, always wearing the outfit (scruffy sweatshirt, goofy hat and bargain-bin shorts), doesn't get the fans riled up like he used to. His time may be over.

Iverson hits some insane outside shots. Defender in his eye, the shot still goes in.

Kidd is putting a hurting on the Sixers. With 9 minutes to go in the game, he has 22 points and at least 8 assists and 6 rebounds and 4 steals.

At an 8:27 timeout, the arena public address announcer declares the following: "Alright Nets fans, it's the fourth quarter, it's your time to be the sixth man. On your feet, make some noise!" - as Guns N' roses "Welcome to the Jungle" blasts.

Van Horn to the rim for a dunk - stuffed by what appeared to be two or three different Nets.

With 7:39 to go in the game, it's Nets 81 Sixers 78.

It's a battle, folks. Sixers by 1 with 5:29 to go.

Booties in Motion, back on the floor once again to do that thing. Do that thing, Booties!

It's weird seeing Rodney Rogers get so much time in the fourth quarter, considing the lack of earlier playing time.

With 3:15 to go, Derrick Coleman rose high to block a Richard Jefferson layup. For those that don't know, Coleman is a big reason for Philly's recent success.




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