Nets' Douglas-Roberts makes good first impression

NOTES:@ Carter practiced on Saturday and is questionable for Sunday's game, Nets spokesman Gary Sussman said. ... The Nets needed 70 minutes for the ride from their London hotel to practice because of

By TOM CANAVAN

Published October 11, 2008 at 1:18 p.m.
Updated October 11, 2008 at 2:03 p.m.

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Judging the NBA Draft on one preseason game, the New Jersey Nets got a steal taking Memphis guard Chris Douglas-Roberts with the 40th overall pick.

Douglas-Roberts had no trouble making the transition to the pro ranks on Thursday with 18 points, six rebounds and three steals in a 100-98 overtime victory over the Miami Heat played in Paris.

"Surprisingly, I was very comfortable," Douglas-Roberts said Saturday. "I don't know why, I really didn't have any butterflies. My nerves weren't really going for some reason. I felt comfortable and I felt really confident out there. But just being able to get the first game out of the way, it's sort of a relief, you know, just to say I'm officially an NBA player. It's a great feeling."

Douglas-Roberts had a spectacular second quarter, scoring 10 points in less than two minutes with a variety of jumpers, drives and steals and layups.

It was a continuation of what he had done at Memphis, where he was the Tigers' leading scorer (18.1) and the Conference USA player of the year.

However, that play didn't help him in the draft.

The draft did motivate him, though.

"That's pretty much all it is," Douglas-Roberts said in a conference call from London, where the Nets will play the Heat in another exhibition on Sunday. "It's just having a chip on my shoulder. I'm pretty much over it now. Now all I have to do is play and make others realize that it was a mistake."

Looking back on the draft, Douglas-Roberts said being picked by the Nets might help his career. New Jersey is retooling after trading Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson in the last eight months and there is plenty of playing time up for grabs.

Guards Vince Carter and Devin Harris are assured playing time. After that, it's wide open. Douglas-Roberts got 28 minutes in the preseason opener.

"A lot of guys who were picked in the first round won't see the floor, they won't have the same opportunity that I have here," Douglas-Roberts said. "Really, now I can thank those teams that passed on me."

While he scored points playing an offense that mirrors the one used by Memphis, Douglas-Roberts was more impressed with his ability to come up with steals.

"Defensively is where my best smarts really kick in because I anticipate a lot of the things," he said. "I feel I am pretty basketball savvy and I anticipate a lot of plays because I know a lot of things."

The only problem for Douglas-Roberts is that his performance might have increased expectations. Everyone will be looking for double-digit games.

A confident Douglas-Roberts laughed about the situation.

"I probably dug myself a little hole there," he said. "But that's what I'm gonna get every night. That's what I'm going to try to do every night when I get the opportunity. People can expect me to give that effort every time I play."

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