EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The way this season went, the Nets ended their Meadowlands run in fitting fashion.

They were booed in the beginning and end, had injuries to multiple players, and many fans left before the 105-95 loss to the Bobcats ended. There was a comeback from 16 down in the first half and the Nets wound up taking a lead, but struggled with their shot and on defense. And as the final seconds wound down, some fans rose and cheered while about seven people put paper bags over their heads and booed.

That was the Nets’ 69th loss of the season, 33rd at home and last in the building that opened in 1981.

I have plenty of memories of games at the Meadowlands, as a fan and writer.

The first is of my first game during the 1982-83 season. My father took me to see the 76ers because I was a Julius Erving fan and a fan of Philadelphia. We were down by the court pre-game and my father said to Len Elmore and James Bailey, “Are you anybody?” They were nice enough to come over and sign autographs anyway.

I was at the game when Erving’s No. 32 was retired and the Nets brought back all these ABA players for the ceremony.

My first game as a writer was during the 1993-94 season. I was 25 and covered the Nets’ win over Karl Malone, John Stockton and the Jazz. Among the people I interviewed were Chuck Daly, Armon Gilliam, Stockton and Kenny Anderson.

I can’t remember every game after that or all the events, but there are some that stand out:

* Onetime coach John Calipari screaming across the court for a fan to sit down. 

* Sherman Douglas taking down Miami Heat player Keith Askins after a hard foul on Keith Van Horn.

* The playoff game that Michael Jordan stared down Calipari.

* Stephon Marbury’s mom, Mabel, running across the court to make sure her son was all right after he and Jayson Williams went down in a heap.

(Funny side note: The game ended too late for my newspaper at the time –- the Herald-News –- and we didn’t really have a Web site back then. So the story that ran in that paper was something I got at shootaround from Williams that he would play through all his pain -- he had a broken thumb and something else -- yet that night Jayson suffered a career-ending injury. Oops!)

* The way Jason Kidd lifted the play of everyone around him and made some of most spectacular passes you ever would see, leading to dunks by Kerry Kittles, Kenyon Martin, Richard Jefferson, Vince Carter and so many others who were lucky to play with him.

* All the Nets' playoff games of the Kidd era. Of course, the double-overtime Game 5 classic against the Pacers stands out. I really thought the Nets were going to lose that game, but Kidd wouldn’t let them.

* I was stunned that Game 3 of the 2002 NBA Finals was at the Meadowlands. I never thought we would see that. I’m sure many of you were, too.

* I also was stunned the Nets lost Game 6 at home in 2004 against Detroit after beating the Pistons in the triple-OT classic to go up 3-2 in the conference semis.

* The regular-season game the Nets won over the Cavaliers in 2004 when Jefferson scored 42, including the winning points on Jabari Smith’s out-of-bounds lob, on the day Carter was introduced at a pre-game press conference.

* The double-OT game when Kidd and Steve Nash were terrific in a 161-157 Phoenix win. Nash had 42 points and 13 assists and Kidd a ridiculous triple-double of 38 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists. The Nets should have won, but they didn’t foul Nash in regulation before he could attempt a three in the closing seconds. Nash hit the OT-forcing three. This came just after Carter fouled Boris Diaw to prevent a game-tying three. It was Carter’s sixth foul. Aside from the game, the vivid memory was coach Lawrence Frank coming in and opening up his press conference with, “I screwed the team.”

* The level of basketball Carter and Kidd played in the back-to-back home wins in the 2007 opening-round series against higher-seeded Toronto. They put on an absolute show with Carter averaging 32 and Kidd putting up 16.5 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds in the two games. Remember, Kidd was inspired because Toronto coach Sam Mitchell didn’t believe Kidd’s knee was bothering him.

* The fantastic ending to the series, with Jefferson, who had become a third wheel, making the winning shot and steal.

* The way the 2007 Eastern semi ended against the Cavaliers. In Game 4, Carter had two turnovers late and fumbled the ball out of bounds in a two-point loss. In Game 6, Kidd needed help and no one was there for him.

* Devin Harris’ debut in February 2008 and the chants of “Dev-in Har-ris” that filled the arena. Ten months later, the chants were “Thank You, Cuban” for Dallas owner Mark Cuban after Harris scored 41 in Kidd’s return.

* Harris’ miracle halfcourt heave to beat the Sixers last season.

These are just some that I can think of. I’m sure I’ve left off many that were near and dear to some of you. Tell us some of yours if you want.

Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)