The Nets basked in the afterglow of Devin Harris' game-winning, halfcourt shot that gave them one of the most improbable triumphs in their history. Everybody seemed perky - it was like a day with Disney World tour guides. Then there was Vince Carter. So, how are you playing? "Terrible," Carter said. "I don't feel like my game is where it should be at this point in the season." OK, maybe not everybody was perky. "I wouldn't use the word 'terrible,' " Harris said. "Can he be better? Yes. Will he be better? Yes. Everybody goes through stretches. The first two games after the All-Star break, he was great for us. He hit a little rut, but I don't expect him to stay in it long." Carter has done all that has been asked of him. He has been a team captain. A top-shelf scorer. A rebounder. A passer. A facilitator. At times, a cheerleader. His role changes with the opponent, often night to night. He has done it all without complaint. "I'm just going to play regardless," said Carter, who will look to escape the little rut when the Nets go for two in a row tonight at the Meadowlands against Chicago. "Coach puts the ball in my hands. I just have to continue to make plays for guys and knock down open shots." In his past 12 games, Carter has averaged 17 points, dropping his season mark a full point (21.6 to 20.6). In that span, he has shot .396 (76 of 192). In his past three games - after exploding out of the break with games of 25 and 30 points - Carter has averaged 14.0 points and shot .367 (18 of 49). So guess what he wants to upgrade? "Just shoot a lot better, be a little smarter," Carter said, showing annoyance with his five turnovers in the "Miracle of the Meadowlands by Someone Not Named Tate George" game. "When I shoot the ball, I expect to make it." Even though Carter scored just 10 points in the 98-96 win over Philadelphia on Monday, he made huge plays at the end of the game. He faked and drove with 13.2 seconds left to tie. He fought on the floor for a loose-ball rebound midway through the fourth when Philly threatened to pull away. He tied up Royal Ivey for a jump ball the Nets controlled with 49.9 ticks left. Coach Lawrence Frank, who reshuffled his rotation to replace Josh Boone with Sean Williams at backup center, said Carter is the least of his worries. "There's going to be stretches when you play better than others. Vince is a Hall-of-Fame player. The cream always rises to the top," Frank said. "The great thing about Vince is you can put him in all different situations. . . . What's a little bit underrated is the fact he hurt his elbow on his shooting hand, and that has impacted his shots." 卡特的手肘受傷一直影響著他的投籃，也導致一部分原因於最近出手欲望沒有那麼高， 還有命中率跟著下滑。 http://www.nypost.com/seven/02252009/sports/nets/nets_upbeat__except_for_vince_156856.htm --

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