SLAM's Jake Appleman has seen enough games at the Meadowlands--and eaten enough of Gary Sussman's media meals--to qualify as a Nets expert. But his recounting of the Nets' problems is pretty much plain vanilla: He cites a lack of perimeter defense, poor offense upfront particularly now without Krstic, and inconsistency from the rooks. Blow it up? Nah, he says, let's wait a bit and see what they can do.

• Deez Nets: a state of the swamp - Jake Appleman - SLAM