If the Nets weren’t Jacque Vaughn’s team before Friday night’s signature win over the Pacers, they are now. Vaughn guided the Nets to a win few people, including most fans, thought was possible.
It was not random, not some lucky twist of fate. The Pacers are an improved team and on Friday night a healthy one. The Nets won because of a strategic decision and a couple of tactical ones.
The strategic decision was, of course, holding out eight players — essentially the entire rotation — so they could regroup. The Nets have played 28 games.