Mason Plumlee and Jarrett Still Starting and Still Shining Jarrett Jack and Mason Plumlee continue to start for the Brooklyn Nets; while Deron Williams and Brook Lopez provide their services off the bench. It wasn't supposed to be that way, but injuries to both stars have kept them away from the court recently, and Jack and Plumlee have stepped up in their absence, so here we are. It continued tonight against the Sacramento Kings with Plumlee and Jack in the starting lineup, opposed to Williams and Lopez. There's a synergy there and the Kings experienced the dynamic duo's exploits tonight as the Nets, were able to sustain their late second quarter surge throughout the second half, pulling out a 107-99 win in front of a sellout crowd. The Nets scored their highest point total (by quarter) of the game in the second with 30 points and the most important scores occurred in the closing minutes. With 4:20 left, and the Nets leading by a deuce, 46-44, Plumlee and Co. organized a 11-0 run which improved their lead to double-digits, as they entered the intermission period up 13, 57-44. Brooklyn Nets point guard, Jarrett Jack Plumlee scored half of the points in the run, which included two slams, while Alan Anderson and Jack accounted for the other six. Plumlee and Jack also scored 10 and 12 respectively, leading the team in scoring individually into halftime. At some point, you have to ask yourself where are Williams and Lopez? After all, they did play and provide stability off the bench, but the more Williams and Lopez play in the roles they are currently reflecting, the more they are becoming after-thoughts. Williams and Lopez, who subbed for Jack and Plumlee respectively in tonight's contest, have me questioning whether or not the crowd is cheering their arrival into the game or the play of the two they have come to replace on the floor. Just a thought. If you're wondering, Lopez scored 11 points with six rebounds while Williams chipped in six points and three assists. The Nets improved to (14-16) overall on the season while the Kings dropped to (13-18), after defeating the New York Knicks just two days ago in OT, 135-129, which really isn't news by the way. Unfortunately for the Kings, they were unable to sweep the state of New York tonight, as Brooklyn seems to be the only team that matters in the mecca, as far as basketball is concerned. With the way the Nets are playing collectively, this alignment seems to be the recipe for success. Plumlee, who had the challenge of facing up against DeMarcus Cousins (7th in All-Star balloting for front-court players with 117,003), one of the best young bigs in the game, held his own scoring 22 points with 4 rebounds, while Cousins produced a double-double in 24 and 14. Jack and Joe Johnson both scored 16 points. Brooklyn Nets shooting guard, Joe Johnson Since Jack and Plumlee replaced Williams and Lopez in the starting lineup, the Nets are 4-1. It's a small sample size but you cannot argue with results. To be honest, if Jack and Plumlee started the season, they could've been viable candidates to make the All-Star team as alternates on a team where no-one else deserves the honor. Another key stat in tonight's game was the fact that Plumlee got to the line eight times, sinking 10 of 16 free throws. "They got it to me on the block a little bit more and in transition I got fouled a bit," said Plumlee post-game. "They wanted to foul, so they called them, and I got to the free throw line." It seems like the only facet of Plumlee's game that is lacking is a face-up game and a 15-foot jumpshot, which is what makes Plumlee's development thus far and production such a surprise. Although Plumlee and Jack were the stars of the game, the play of the game award goes to Kevin Garnett who flashed back to his Minnesota days for one play late in the third. With 16.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Kevin Garnett rebounded a miss shot from Kings guard Ray McCallum and led a two-man fast-break, in which Sergey Karasev served him up an alley-oop slam, which Garnett completed emphatically, much to the delight of the crowd. "I know I'm like 150 years... I can actually dunk the ball," said Garnett regarding his slam-dunk. "You can't start in the league if you can't dunk." Garnett finished with 10 points on the night. With all the success the Nets are experiencing as of this moment, something has to be done about Williams and Lopez. Two of the highest paid players on the team have accepted their new-found roles as bench players but how long can this last to this team's benefit. There are a number of players around the league that can produce the numbers that Lopez and Williams are averaging off the bench for a discounted price. Just saying.