Nets: Bad Now, Good Later

Yeah we might be awfull for the next 3-4 campaigns.

OMG!!!!

I think we’ll struggle next year, but I do think there is a chance we surprise. I’m not exactly sure how a core of Devin Harris, Courtney Lee and Brook Lopez is just barely above a core of Eddy Curry, Al Harrington and Jammal Tinsley.

The article got it wrong: Yi is slated to be a PF not SF (although with his lack of rebounding acumen, maybe we should play him at SF).

im curious to see if we make some trades before the season starts…dooling or alston? najera? simmons? swat?

bad now, good later? how’s that different for every team that has been bad in the past few years? How many teams that were bad but didn’t have nice young players?
OUr core isn’t like Curry, Al Harrington, and TInsley, cuz that’s comparing to veterans.
How about comparing to Nate Robinson, Chandler, Galo, Harrington, and Jordan HIll? Keep on the consolation for a few years.

i dont think we are better than the knicks….hate to admit it.

The part where Byrnes alluded to Carter’s supposed newly found defensive intensity is where all credibility was lost from this article. Nuff said.

@Andy

Though I do believe the Knicks youth is close to what the Nets have, the main issue with the Knicks is simple…they lack a legit PG and a legit Center. Believe me, lots of teams would sign up for a young corp. that includes Devin and Brook over anything the Knicks have. The one reason the Knicks were competitive last season was the run and gun style of play they brought to the table. It’s like how the Nets got good when Kidd came on board…difference is that the Eastern Conference was horrible back then and Kidd had a good cast around him; and not that once that cast changed, they were still able to remain competitive due to the running style Kidd succeeded in. As long as the Knicks just run like mad men, they’ll win some games cuz the NBA season is a long one, and even the good teams will rather just take it easy against NY then have to run up and down with a Knicks team that they more than likely would beat if the game mattered.

I don’t see sunny skies after this season.

Who’s to say that with how ownership is going and all the losses that Lopez and Harris won’t demand a trade or not want to resign when contract negotiations come up?

@ biggie – You 100% right…

The NETS biggest problem is the Coach… We could walk out on the court with the Lakers startin lineup and still manage to Screw it up… Coaching makes a difference too.

Yeah, the article lost credibility when it said that Yi will be the SF and T-Will the SG.

One part is right: we are atrocious right now.

As for the future, what is the upside??? We are set at ONE position – center. That’s it. It remains to be seen whether Devin Harris is the answer at point guard and the rest of the roster is either questions marks, complete stiffs or has-beens. We have absolutely no head coach, no coaching staff – an absolutely embarrassment for an owner who has no interest in the actual on-court product. Other than that, i’d say the future looks really bright!!!!

Frank is not the biggest problem with this team.

Yeah coach means everything… that’s why Larry Brown wins so much! Oh and Mike Brown, coach of the year! Oh and Doc Rivers is all of a sudden, or night, magically, a great coach.

Please.

This guy’s clueless.

“John Salmons can score the basketball (over 18ppg in his only season as a starter) and is an upper-echelon defender on the perimeter.”

“Small forward Yi Jianlian”

All I’m saying is…

…the Nets should still be in the hunt for a playoff spot with at least 6 mos. left in the regular season. =)

With all the available power forwards getting gobbled up, and the Big Baby situation looking elusive, my new idea is to….trade for Renaldo Balkman. I have liked him for a while and I think he would be perfect for our team to come off the bench, provide a different look, contribute to our running game. He can backup Yi on the cheap. He had his moments last year, but Denver didn’t use him in the playoffs. He is young, energetic, and fun to watch. Why would Denver trade him? Well, I think they like Kleiza better but may be struggling to sign him. Perhaps if we throw one of our trade exceptions Denver’s way we can get Renaldo…I would be psyched about that.

Renaldo Balkman, seriously?

Wow Chris2…

I’ve thought the exact same thing before.
Balkman can be an elite defender in this league.. he brings so much energy, hustle and defense when he steps on the court.

When does Renaldo Balkman step on the court?

In March of last year Balkman played a good amount, averaged 20 minutes for the month…and averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds on 56% shooting. When he gets minutes, he is productive. Particularly, he has a knack for rebounding the ball…he can push the ball up the court too, his ball handling is quite good. He played behind Nene, KMart, Anderson, and Kleiza last year, so the opportunities weren’t always there. He plays like a young Najera on steroids.

Actually coaching does have a lot to do with winning, it’s the team personnel as well, but let’s not pretend last year’s team is the only team L. Frank has had. He had teams with Kidd, Vince, and RJ and was one of few coaches to ever have 2 perennial all-stars and one 2nd-3rd tier star on the same team. Even Krstic was a solid player for Frank too. He’s had 6 seasons to prove he could do anything, not just one. So please spare me the Frank isnt that bad of a coach routine. He’s a likable guy, but he’s clueless about the actual game of basketball and decision making. He’s good at watching videos and figuring out the opponent’s plays, but he has no idea how to counter them during live games so it does us no good. I’m not saying he should have won championships with our benches the way they were, but if we had a real coach we definitely could have won way more regular season games and more than likely never missed the playoffs too other than this past season.

at TheMann:

“He’s had 6 seasons to prove he could do anything, not just one. So please spare me the Frank isnt that bad of a coach routine. He’s a likable guy, but he’s clueless about the actual game of basketball and decision making. He’s good at watching videos and figuring out the opponent’s plays, but he has no idea how to counter them during live games so it does us no good.”

Once again – very well said, this is the truth. Period.

I usually agree with you Chris2, but not on this one. Balkman is OK as a defender and hustle player, but that role on the Nets is already taken by TWill. Can’t see how we would play them together because neither can shoot, and would you seriously want to give some of TWill’s minutes to Balkman? Let the kid develop—he has a much higher ceiling.

Well, first and foremost, I view Balkman as a backup PF that can rebound well. I think that should be a big factor with a frontcourt player we bring in, as we were consistently beaten last year because teams outrebounded us. I think Brook felt overwelmed at times with the amount of responsibility he had to grab every board. I don’t see Balkman taking up TWill’s minutes because he would just get some backup PF time whereas TWill will find his spots subbing for SG and SF. I can still see TWill and Balkman playing together…the focus would have to be on fast break basketball. It would be for short strethes. Being a good shooter is great but are we asking our backup PF to shoot a lot? We have enough bench talent where Frank could have flexibility to surround him with other shooters. I also like we would have him for a 1 year test drive and would not impact our flexibility in 2010. I have just enjoyed watching him play when I have gotten to chance to see him. He probably is not available anyway…just spitballing some ideas…

@ Tim

Although there were several reasons the Nets won 34 games last year and might not win that many this year, what to you are the three biggest reasons for this and what % of the total reason would you give them?

@ TheMann

"He’s good at watching videos and figuring out the opponent’s plays, but he has no idea how to counter them during live games so it does us no good."

I disagree. I think he’s great at how to counter play, his problem is who he does it with. He doesn’t know what it takes so he goes with insufficient talent. His style kills him more than his tactics.

Renaldo Balkman!? Oh good we’re thinking of mock contingency plans! My favorite! I think we should sweeten the pot and pretend to trade Devin Harris instead.

How about Devin Harris to Detroit for Stuckey and Maxiell?

…Harris and Hayes to Charlotte for DJ Augustin and Gerald Wallace?

…Harris for Chris Duhon and Wilson Chandler?

…Harris for Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers?

I am choosing to remain somewhat optimistic about this upcoming season. A lot of IFS would have to go my way but it’s one of the ways I stay excited about sports. Especially, since the Mets have pist all over my sports summer.

-IF Harris plays at the same level as last year and improves PG skils and defense.
-IF Lee improves on his good rookie season and scopres some
-IF CDR and Twill can come in and produce so that Simmons and Hassel can be in suits instead of playing (which sucks).
-IF Yi (biggest IF – most crucial) can beceome somewhat of what the Nets need ie. something close to 15 and 10.
-IF Lopez continues his improvement and scores some.
-IF bench players Alston, Dooling, Hayes, Najera, Battie and Boone (I wish Swat was in the mix but he seems to have f’d up) can play at a decently high level or some of them get traded for otherwise contributors, IF then…

I don’t think the Nets will suck that badly and have a shot to get the bottom seeds of the payoffs and then I root like heck for history and upsets Cinderella etc. Brings back mempories of Nets Sixers 1984. Thats right I’m inmy mid 30s. I was just a kid then but that’s what got me hooked.

I know some people prefer to lose and losee big so that you get a better pick. If that happens it happnes. I don’t root for that. I also wonder if the coach and players subscribe to that theory of losing. I think they are going to try and win as many games as they can. They may not succeed due to the many IFS above, but IF the above happens, the draft lovers will not be happy. Just IMO ;). 41 and 41 here we come