Rebuilding Like a "Dark Tunnel" Says Kiki

Has a team ever fired an interim coach? The Clippers game just epitomizes how poor Kiki is as a coach. Courtney Lee started the game with a few jumpers and a three ball, something that the Nets need desperately. Instead of using Lee’s shooting to spark the offense, Kiki benches him for the remainder of the first and half of the second quarter. Yi was repeatedly out of position and played horrible defense, while Lopez got going early on the block. Kiki decides to take out Lopez, not Yi, and the Clipper lead swelled. Yi, who was matched up with Camby (another horrendous idea), was simply outworked on the defensive end. Game in and game out, Kiki makes such poor decisions. The worst is the mid-game switch to zone against great shooting teams. Kills me every time!

The one thing he did right was play TWill early in the game. Might as well give the rookie valuable game experience that could help him in the long run. TWill had a couple of nice passes and dribble drives, he just has to finish with more authority near the rim.
 
I wish the Nets were like other teams and picked up D-League players for the rest of the season. There’s no risk in doing so, and you could potentially find a hidden gem. Picking up cheap veterans could also help the team. The Bucks just picked up Stackhouse, a type of savvy veteran the Nets could honestly use right now. Adding a few vets could help avoid the worst record of all-time, and they could help mentor & motivate the young players in this horrific time. Obviously, these wishes will never come true

Kiki has a lot to learn about rebuilding. If you strip a team down too much it’s difficult to build them back up quickly. NBA is full of examples— post-Jordan Bulls (until recently) being a great one.

His big mistake was not replacing VC with another younger star, or just retaining him in the first place. It now appears that removing him from the team was as serious as removing the central support column in a building. Even though many of the young players improved, the team collapsed.

Now the job is significantly more difficult.

@smp369
Thank you good observation!
Why should any players on this team bust their ass to win games, when the teachers pet gets to play even when he is stinking on both sides of the court?
Funny how KiKi says rebuilding is a dark tunnel!
KiKi created the tunnel!
He’s the last person who should be complaining.
Brook Lopez will not be an all star this year because of KiKi.
Brook has 7 games where he scored 15 or more points in the first half and barely sees the ball in the 2nd half.
CDR will not get most improved player because of KiKi.
CDR was scoring 16 points on 47% shooting until Yi came back.
KiKi does not deserve to be re signed.

Kiki has no bloody idea about what he’s doing

@djheavyduty

Good point you make about the devastating impact Kiki’s “coaching” has had on the developing careers of CDR and Brook. Important accolades (like the MIP eligibility for CDR) are sabotaged. What should be a breakout year for both CDR and Brook is undermined. Yet everyone expects the players should just shut up and play. It must be much harder than us fans can know. I’m sure it’s hurtful for their professional opportunities and it’s just plain wrong.

For the past three seasons AT LEAST I wanted Frank gone. This year I got my with. But…

Nothing in the world could have prepared ANYONE for Kiki. He makes Frank look like Friggin’ Phil-Auerbach.

Damn.

You know what’s funny? The first thing Kiki spoke with Humphries was ‘remember when you started playing basketball? Wasn’t it fun? That’s what we’re doing here, trying to have fun.’

I think his halftime speech is something like:
‘That first half wasn’t so fun. Let’s go out the second half and make sure we have fun!’

But seriously, what’s going on with Yi now is absolutely…well, my english isn’t good enough to come up with a strong enough word.

This ‘mandate’ and ‘preferential treatment’ is absolutely undermining everything good we had riding into this season.

Seriously, if I was in such a situation I would be going crazy, I can’t stand to see such injustices!

I can give him a pass for this Gm work until here, but what’s going on with him on the sidelines is just absurd. It’s blatant that CDR Lee and Lopez’s development has been given a back seat to Yi’s development, and it’s terrible to see, simply from a fairness/justice (non basketball) perspective. Every player has worked HARD to have a chance here, not 1 of them should be given priveleges or a free pass.

I agree with everything I’ve seen so far.. at least LFrank kept us in games… The EFFORT was there. Kiki is completely at a loss. He has no coaching experience and oh my does it show.

Good observations smp369.

Did anyone else notice that in the Bonsignore article, he gave the figure of cap space with and without Dooling being returned – 21.3 vs 24.9 million.

Since obviously no TOP FA is coming, there is no point in buying out Dooling for 1/2 million, unless Wall is going to be drafted (75% chance he won’t, unless there is a trade to move up if Nets are #2 pick).

21.3 million is enough to get All-Star DLee as our PF/backup C. and another nice FA. Yi could still earn time as backup PF, but with addition of Humphries, that may be tough.
Humphries has already proven to more valuable than Yi in the eyes of Nets fans (and is probably slightly younger too). Humphries was never given the opportunity to play as Yi has been.

If Nets were fortunate to land DLee in FA and draft a quality PF, then Yi could be dealt in offseason, although I don’t think he would bring back much (Andres may argue otherwise).

Bottom line is that with the Steal of the Year in Humphries, Yi becomes an unnecessary option for next year.

There are times when I think he has been thrown under the bus. Times must be quite Machiavellian at 390 Murray Hill Parkway.

Under the other hand, he has get SOME credit for the rebuilding process along with Thorn. It’s hard to tell who gets the credit. For example, who wanted Humphries…Thorn or Vandeweghe? Who made the Marcus Williams deals that cut the Nets two picks, a first and a second, for an end-of-the-bencher? He liked CDR in the second round. I have heard he wanted Robin instead of Brook, but I can’t imagine there was much dissension when Brook was available at #10.

NI, what do you mean?

I agree NI, and it speaks volumes about the judgement of Rod Thorn, and reflects negatively on his ability to engineer a turnaround. Clean house, Proky.

Once Proky takes over, I think he will be pressured to hire his new coach during this season. Advantage of Billionaire is he can pay whatever it takes to get coach to sign.

Hopefully it will be Avery Johnson (before Hornets sign him), who would demand Defense and finish year strong.
If only Kiki could develop TWill before that time comes to move Kiki back upstairs, I would be satisfied.

Afterall, Nets now have a 6 game advantage on TWolves for the best odds in the draft. That lead could still be blown if Thorn pulls off another good trade before deadline. We should then thank Kiki for not winning more games.

And why is 1 comment of mine still awaiting moderation, when my last one popped up without moderation?

Wanted to add, I been hoping that Yi will come around. When he was showing improved agression on offense I was real excited, when his 3 pt. shot looked good and he was driving and dunking pretty much at will. That seems like ages ago.

However, after watching last night, it seems to me that the Yi bashers have some solid points. He is absolutely TERRIBLE on D. In fact, there were SO many times when his man was open, alone under the basket. Inexcusable. He is never at the right place, and looks much worse then merely ‘lost’ on defense. ‘hopeless’ is more like it. And it really really pains me to say this. Becuase I was hoping…hoping that the D will still come…and I still hope it does, I hope he develops into a solid outside shooter with sneaky post moves who can drive off the 3 pt line like we’ve seen, plus a decent (decent!! too much to ask?) rebounder and shotblocker.

HOWEVER, what I saw the last few games, has made it really really hard to believe he will ever ‘get it’ on D. In fact, how has his offense dissapeared so fast? Really deperessing.

And if anyone thinks that Lopez lowered Yi’s confidence… Well, isn’t that really a knock on Yi cause it’s really saying that he’s SO mentally weak that a few (mildly and carefully put) statements from Brook would shatter his confidence like that? That’s like admiting this guy is such a fragile angel that everyone has to watch what they say (don’t use the ‘f’ word, you know who might get offended) and treat him with fluff gloves and blankets.

I don’t believe that.

What I DO believe is that KIKI is such an idiot that he is actually making Yi regress. I FEEL BAD FOR YI seeing videos of Kiki and Del working with him solo, instead of training with his team. I bet he hates it. It seems to me like his coach is isolating him from the team. He should be practicing with the team. I bet that’s what he wants too, It’d be really hard for me to imagine him wanting any sort of preferential treatment, I bet what he wants is to be like EVERY OTHER YOUNG NBA PLAYER and play and practice and gel with his team, not with KIKI…

I think He liked kiki at first but I think Kiki is causing him problems. Well, I think kiki has no clue. I think Kiki is inadvertedly piling onto the already astounding amounts of pressure this kid faces.

The LAC announcers said that Brook was alternative choice for draft pick for nearly every team ahead of the Nets including the Clippers, who were already stacked at Center.

The Odds for something freakish like that happening again are astronomical, since each team agreed that BLopez was one of the top prospects in the country. They each chose not to draft BPA.

Maybe MN wouldn’t pick Wall if they got first pick. At least Nets could be forced to give picks to MN if Nets had #2 pick. They might demand the Dallas pick.

At this point (paritally because of Humphries acquisition), I would trade Yi and picks to move up to #1.

I think part of the frustration with DH and probably some other Nets, is due to Kiki and Yi.

We have evidence that Harris complained to Thorn about Kiki’s lack of coaching ability and also about Harris joking about Yi’s age. It was also written that players are resentful how Kiki treats Yi differently.

Combine that with Harris’ injuries at key areas of groin and right wrist could explain how frustrated Harris must feel. This would be wrong time to consider trading Harris.

A new coach, the Humphries trade, and sustained good health, and I can see Harris returning to near All Star form by the end of the year.

Hopefully there would be another trade using Boone and draft picks and an expiring (Hayes or Battie) for an upgrade at backup center.

Now it is clear that the management is tanking the season, possibly with the blessing of Proky. They system they play will not fetch many wins and players are forced to play in that system. Frank played to win and Kiki plays to develop players but mainly focuses on Yi.

We don’t need two post players. We’ve Brook and Yi should be faceup, driving, rebounding PF.

Guards have lost the motivation and it is clear on the floor. There is nothing for them. Don’t forget that CLee, CDR and even Devin are young players who like to show what they can do but when their coach doesn’t allow them to do that, they can lose the motivation.

I wish they hire a permanent coach now before the all-star break and let him win some games.

His brain is like a dark tunnel. Yi is blocking the light. CDR is crying he can’t see his tatoos. Lopez is whinning. Harris is going his own way.

Kiki may be a great GM, but as a coach he has failed abysmally!! Yi’s defense is likewise absymal!!

A great GM would have a better and more balanced product on the floor. He and Thorn failed miserably and it is showing. We have giant holes in our team. No PF, no SF, no shooters, no rebounders, no stoppers. This is an aweful group of patch-work players. He got lucky drafting Melo just as Thorn got lucky drafting MJ. What have they done lately?

Being a fan of this team is like being in a dark tunnel too…

Just wondering…when did “develop our youngsters” become try 2 save Yi-Ki’s career at the expense of EVERYONE ELSE??! Fire Kiki NOW!

The worst part is, L-Frank got the team to compete every night with half a roster! Kiki can’t get any wins or decent play with a full roster of talented players. It is unreal how the players have clearly thrown in the towel. What makes people think B-Lopez and CDR and even Yi will want to stay with the Nets in a year or two when they are free agents?? Devin Harris is already on the way out… It will be just like the post jordan bulls, rebuilding in neverending cycles with nothing to show for it but upset players getting shipped out or leaving as FAs… This is unreal, Kiki needs to move back upstairs and let Avery Johnson or Etore Messina or even Butch Beard or Bill Fitch or John Calipari or Byron Scott or anybody else come coach this team, they can’t be worse than Kiki. All this is doing is making people realize how good a coach L-Frank was and how at least his players played hard for him! Say what you will but you didn’t have the infighting you have now under LFrank no matter how bad things got… he must be laughing watching this train wreck play out from his couch

You’re the best NI, but since you added the second paragraph to your 10:03 post some time after that, I need to clarify that while I agreed with your initial post, it is a respectful “not so much” with the stuff added after that.

Amassing draft picks and marginal players is not rebuilding, so Kiki and Rod do not get any credit until the picks are wisely made or traded. The CDR pick was a no-brainer, and if anything, their judgement is questionable in that they seriously considered him in the first round when he would turn out to be available about 20 picks later.

Humphries has a long way to go before he is a smart pick-up. I see a bigger version of Al Thornton without the skills because he seems to have tunnel vision for the hoop whenever he gets the ball. He just looks good compared to what we are used to seeing, which is the worst in the league. We are committed to his contract for next year, and even if he works out, I can’t see him being a critical cog on a contender. Hope I’m wrong.

Giving any credit for “rebuilding” a three win team is clearly premature. Based on the team’s performance and management decisions, I have no faith in Rod and Kiki’s ability to effectively rebuild this franchise. How many first round picks made by this management team have been busts? MWill, SWill, TWill, Boone, need I go on? Lopez was a no-brainer, and while Anderson was a good pick, we ditched him for Lee, who has been inconsistent at best.

Let’s not squander this painfully achieved rebuilding opportunity. Clean house, Proky.

I wonder whether there was dissent with respect to selecting Terrence Williams. If he were Kiki’s choice, you’d think he’d be getting the Yi treatment . . . instead, he’s getting the Josh Boone treatment.

@ The GM

I wonder if this is developing youth. He is only teaching losing. He is not developing good winning habits, defense, team play, etc. I don’t think Kiki is helping these guys in the long run, especially CDR and TWill. They have given up on him, so he is developing nothing. Not even Yi whose shooting is slipping and his team play is missing.

Sounded like Kiki was finally getting PO on post game show. Will he do anything about it.

Another 3 reb night by our 7’ pf. Can anyone say Mel Counts!

Lets not get carried away about Hump after 1 game. Lets see some defense in the paint.

Is Harris part of the solution or part of the problem?

It is still all about next years pick?

Given the Nets recent draft history, should Rod make that pick? Even with TB as scout.

Is @NI really Kiki?

I think it’s important to note, regarding the draft, that at BEST, if we finish with the worse record in the NBA, we will only have a 25% chance of getting the first pick. So those who are pro John Wall, and are worried that the wolves may get the 1st pick if we go on a win streak, think again. Nothing is set in stone. Historically, the worse teams the season before, did not get the #1 pick. This team should be trying to win games. Should be trying to compete. I am hoping that this is how it is until the All-Star break. At that point, Kiki will start to utilize the full team after he “develops” Yi and Lopez. Or at least, i sure do hope so, because I am quickly becoming a dismayed fan.

Looking at that picture of Kiki and Del, I’d say it’s a “dork” tunnel.

One sad and bad thing about this tanking to get better strategy is that fans get cheated, especially Season Ticket Holders!!!

Season Ticket holders last year and this year have no guarantee that their support over the years will get rewarded next year when they move to Prudential and in 2012 when they move to Brooklyn.

All the sponsors will get a shot at all the best seats first and if you are a fan and want to finally want to watch a winning Nets, wou will have to buy it from the sponsor insiders who were able to get their hands on those tickets for ridiculous jacked-up prices.

I was just told that even if I have good seats for the past few years, that the same quality seats will not be guaranteed since the sponsors will get their seats first. Then, next in line will be those who have connections and favors. What’s left for the current STH will be corners at very high rows or even upper levels.

Then, what will be left for the individual game ticket buyers will be nose-bleeder seats or pay the jacked-up price!

Long as they fill the place up, good for them. I’ll be watching in time-delayed on my big screen.

“Rebuilding” is hardly the word for what ownership and management have done to the Nets. “Demolition” is more like it.

Teams rebuild all the time, but when was the last time that a rebuilding effort produced such a disastrous won-lost record?

The problem was Thorn and Kiki overrated the talent on the team due to last year’s record. They also underrated VC’s importance last year.

Given the disparities in the records, a case could be made to award VC the league MVP for LAST year. How, often does one get the chance to see the difference one player makes. It’s similar to the effect that David Robinson’s injury had on the Spurs before the year before Tim Duncan joined (except that the Spurs were better than the Nets before Robinson’s injury and after.)

I don’t think VC will be up for MVP in Orlando. He doing the same thing down there he did up here, which is dominate the offense and while that is just what the Nets needed, it is the last thing Orlando needs. Maybe we can get him back…

If some stop saying how old and useless he was, VC would still be wearing a Nets jersey right now.