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Are the Nets Just...Soft?

Dave D'Alessandro raises a simple question about the Nets: are they as a team inherently soft or as he put it, "too scared to guard, too scared to help, too scared to rotate, too scared to contest shots, and, heaven forbid, too scared to put a body on someone or commit a hard foul?" Brook Lopez pleads guilty: "I think people – myself included – they pick up that early foul and then shy away from contact."

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We dont have as great a core of young talent as everyone thinks we do T-will is not gonna be anything special c. Lee wont be anything more then a backup yi sucks CDR will be lucky to be a backup 2 getting 15 mins a night on a halfway decent team. We will be bad for at least another 2 years. The only players that can be good are lopez and Harris and I would be happy to trade Harris for any young potential stars

by 2010nets on Jan 24, 2010 7:41 PM EST reply actions  

I totally agree with the “soft” issue!

by Joanne on Jan 24, 2010 7:44 PM EST reply actions  

It’s one thing to watch a crappy team… I’ve done that plenty of times before as a Nets fan… It’s another thing to watch a team that couldn’t care less about the outcome. This, believe it or not, is a first as a Nets fan. I’ve watched maybe two games in 2010… They give me no reason to tune in.

by Tom on Jan 24, 2010 7:49 PM EST reply actions  

Yeah they’re soft…they have three players not scared CDR , Dooling and Humphries.

by universal on Jan 24, 2010 7:51 PM EST reply actions  

We are very soft
Yi is the definition of soft
Does the guy play defense at all, I love the PHX game if Suns were in trouble they fed it to Amare..

by Randy Oreens on Jan 24, 2010 7:53 PM EST reply actions  

What we need is a permanent Coach right now, we need a coach with a two year deal, + third as optional. Given the authority to develop or not the players on hand because he has the right to pick his team – things will be better

by Sunil on Jan 24, 2010 8:02 PM EST reply actions  

FINALLY SOMEONE COMES OUT AND REALIZES THIS.

by tu vieja on Jan 24, 2010 8:09 PM EST reply actions  

This is all the curse of the red jersey we wear! We should revert to the blue jersey and see how our record stands.

Unfortunately, management and the team executives will not allow it because of the name “New Jersey” on the front. Has anyone else thought that this was the problem?

btw. red jerseys that the nets wear are just plain ugly!

by Agent 0 on Jan 24, 2010 8:10 PM EST reply actions  

Yi is probably the worst, the guy defense is raising his arms. Lopez isn’t much better.

by Seeker on Jan 24, 2010 8:15 PM EST reply actions  

Did they hit a Wall … or… Do they want a Wall?

by NBA is a joke on Jan 24, 2010 8:15 PM EST reply actions  

Yeah they’re soft is that really a serious question? Any idiot can realize that

by ben on Jan 24, 2010 8:19 PM EST reply actions  

Pretty much any bad habits, or undesirable traits in a sports team can fit as a description for the Nets. They are really bad, and there are many reasons why.

by NiceBull on Jan 24, 2010 8:26 PM EST reply actions  

they have to play defense to have a shot at anything, Kiki obviously do not preach defense, do not rebuke them for missing assignments and way more softer than Frank who he wanted fired.

by Mikky Dees on Jan 24, 2010 8:27 PM EST reply actions  

Agreed with Agent 0…bring back those blue jerseys. And the gray jerseys as well.

by Antoine on Jan 24, 2010 8:28 PM EST reply actions  

Yi is defintely the leader of the soft parade here. If he continues to get more minutes than Hump and Boone combined, that means the coach does not care about tough. Hassel and Simmons should play more minutes too. They have some tough. Harris seems only tough on Offense. Forget D. Put up your hands, shake em around and you are a defender on the Nets. Yi is really good at that soft strut. Bring in tough players willing to bang before you lose these young players.

by geo on Jan 24, 2010 8:31 PM EST reply actions  

3 of the starters are soft. The defense starts with Devin who flops for defense….other than that the frontcourt’s soft. Forget Yi he’ll always be a softee but Brook is too finesse.
Last year he was nasty dunking on everybody now he’s always complaining to refs and picking up dumb fouls. Then he’s scared to get called for another foul so he avoids contact.
Proky needs to bring in a big man coach to help Brook with sealing position in the post. (No more post ups 15ft out)
Also teach him to make smart fouls.

by universal on Jan 24, 2010 8:46 PM EST reply actions  

The entire team is soft. To single out any one player being more soft than another here is ridiculous.

by PhilNYC on Jan 24, 2010 8:48 PM EST reply actions  

The Nets are definitely soft. They were blowing 4th quarter leads in the pre-season. That’s about as soft as you can get.

by Mike F. on Jan 24, 2010 9:02 PM EST reply actions  

=/ sad but true.

by the 13yearold diehard nets fan on Jan 24, 2010 9:18 PM EST reply actions  

I think someone should tell Brook Lopez how to take a reall foul not those stupid fouls he takes and is on f toruble all game … do it when someone wants to dunk on u bc as i see anyone comes and dunks on u who knows how many posters u have lol

by Tore on Jan 24, 2010 9:29 PM EST reply actions  

Yi is the worst interior defender that I’ve ever seen, especially terrible at defending pick’n’roll.

The opponent big could just set a fake pick, then go to the hole without any defender.

by jarkid on Jan 24, 2010 9:39 PM EST reply actions  

With most terrible teams, you always get that sense that every game could be a “trap” game for the opponent. With the Nets, you just don’t sense they have what it takes to win on any night.

by Rail>Auto on Jan 24, 2010 9:42 PM EST reply actions  

Yi is the leader of the worse team in history. He is soft, trade him for Amare or David Lee. Yi controls, Kiki, Thorn, Rat, Porgy and Dan Fegan

Yi controls you! Dave D, please save us from Yi with your insightful and unbiased reporting.

by malorkayel on Jan 24, 2010 9:53 PM EST reply actions  

Are the Nets soft? Is the sky blue?

by Larry Brown on Jan 24, 2010 9:59 PM EST reply actions  

Its amazing how short memories of nets fans are. When cdr said the same thing earlier this season, everyone called him a brat and told him to buy into the system. this team been soft and this is the result of not changing that attitude early in the season. now nobody cares!!

yi needs to be benched for boone.

hayes needs to start

lee needs to come off the bench

cdr needs to play the 2.

hard fouls need to be given and any player given up a uncontested layup needs to be fined! steals and blocked shots need to be rewarded somehow.

roy rogers needs to be fired. lopez and yi are both soft as digested pudding.

by superb on Jan 24, 2010 10:11 PM EST reply actions  

@malorkayel: how could Yi be traded for Amare or David Lee?

Have some mercy on this poor kid, after lpz complained he seems to be too nervous to do anything right. Of course I am not blaming lpz hes definitely the leader, but Yi also put great efforts to improve himself and help the team, I dont know what the so-called soft is but its clear that defence is almost non-existent in this team.

by BogutFan on Jan 24, 2010 10:14 PM EST reply actions  

i laugh at the yi is the softie leader of this team…i don’t see any difference between any of them (except hassell)…nets guards just let opposing wing players go by them even the scrubs notably t-will who is supposed to be out best perimeter defender…arvydas sabonis can come in today and score 40 pts as a shooting guard against the nets.

by jirohkanzaki on Jan 24, 2010 10:20 PM EST reply actions  

Yi is not a good defender, but the biggest defensive problems on the team right now are at Point Guard and at Center. And there is nothing Kiki can do about those two positions.

by A.S. on Jan 24, 2010 10:21 PM EST reply actions  

@BogutFan

There is nothing to look forward to this season. Trying to be silly and have fun with it. David Lee was and is a free agent. Strangely enough, no team wanted him and he was force to take a 1 year contract.

If Nets wanted to spend money, which they didn’t. They could have bought some veterans and increased the wins. BUT that obviously wasn’t the plan.

by malorkayel on Jan 24, 2010 10:24 PM EST reply actions  

Not only are the Nets soft, I think they’re too laid back as well. Meaning that they dont play with any intestity or passion at all. Since they’re losing alot of games they just play each game like its just another game and not seem to care if they win or lose. Coach Kiki is laid back as well, I can tell that he doesnt fire up the players in the locker room.

by Andrew on Jan 24, 2010 10:29 PM EST reply actions  

To all the Yi Hater!

Yea yea, ship Yi and keep your futur all star Hump Hump. Since Hump Hump had a marvelous game against the Utah.

LMAO!

by Nets!Nets!Nets! on Jan 24, 2010 10:33 PM EST reply actions  

The NETS can forget about FAs coming to play for us. I say we either trade for quality players that are under contract for a few more years, or simply sign players like Camby, etc to hopefully push through a respectable year next year. SAVE THE CAP SPACE for 2011.

by Adam on Jan 24, 2010 10:35 PM EST reply actions  

Actually, why not trade for JR Smith and Camby!

by Adam on Jan 24, 2010 10:36 PM EST reply actions  

"too scared to guard, too scared to help, too scared to rotate, too scared to contest shots, and, heaven forbid, too scared to put a body on someone or commit a hard foul?"

Are you kidding me!? To scared to help!??? how about they stop OVER HELPING!

I cant remember what teams I watched the other day, but someone came over to help on a drive, and got an ear full from the coach, and the announcers were basically explaining how by doing so, it left a wide open dunk for the other team. Sound familiar? Well it was explained brilliantly. The offensive man on the drive is an NBA player, so skilled enough to see a double come, and easily dish it off. Secondly, the guy on D coming over to help, not only left his assignment, but worse, it was a slap to the guy guarding the ball, basically saying, I have no faith in you that you will be able to guard your man, so I am going to have to leave my man wide open to help you. The Nets are guilty of this I swear, what seems like literally every single defensive stand. Serenity now.

by Tim on Jan 24, 2010 10:40 PM EST reply actions  

Agree. Nets are soft. I would suggest the Nets to double team or tripple team any opponent who runs into the paint and try hard to steal the ball and do a fast break. This can intimidate the opponent from attacking the paint. It is better to let them shoot the longer range shots than the short distance easy shots.

by NetsSoft on Jan 24, 2010 10:43 PM EST reply actions  

So, what about all that advice on this board like, “this year should be all about development” or “the young guys should be playing 30+ minutes”

no! That was wrong. Now they are worse and demoralized. Let the vets play now and rotate the young guys in off the bench. And definitely start Boone. He is the only big who can play a little defense. The Nets looked a lot better during the time he was starting.

by Ispartan on Jan 24, 2010 11:03 PM EST reply actions  

JR smith is one of the dumbest(worst) players in the league. There is a thread on front page of realgm dedicated to this.

by malorkayel on Jan 24, 2010 11:06 PM EST reply actions  

Heckuvajob, Kiki…you took an 0-18 and actually made it worse. You literally made the worst team in NBA history worse…

Hope you are proud of yourself.

Hollah!

by Shawn Carter on Jan 24, 2010 11:12 PM EST reply actions  

let’s just forget about defense then if the nets players don’t want to defend and just try to outscore the other team like the suns and warriors…oh wait they can’t shoot either! they can’t do anything! they’re good at whining tho! this is the worst nba team ever…the 72-73 sixers will beat the crap out of this team…

by jirohkanzaki on Jan 24, 2010 11:16 PM EST reply actions  

The Nets get intimated so easily, they must do the same thing to intimidate their opponents, especially in the paint. They should put more men to focus heavy defense in the paint, try very hard to steal the dribbling, strip the ball off the hand, or steal the pass or force them to pass the ball out for the long range shot. And whoever that is close to the long range shooter must run fast toward that shooter to put some distraction and hope that the jumpshot become a miss. This happens frequently in the NBA defense.

by NetsSoft on Jan 24, 2010 11:16 PM EST reply actions  

kiki never played any defense while he was playing so i am not sold on his sudden focus on defense…

by jirohkanzaki on Jan 24, 2010 11:21 PM EST reply actions  

To all of the Yi,CDR, Lee and TWill fans out there ,these guys are horribl!!!! They are not NBA players but they can twitter, complain, and wear tatoos really well.I hope the new owners bring in some guys who have some real skills like shooting,passing,defending and rebounding not just running fast and jumping high.I agree with all who complain about Kiki, he has no concept of coaching, and Dell, how long ago did he pass away?

by frank c on Jan 24, 2010 11:32 PM EST reply actions  

Bring in jeff van gundy for defense,assistants Ewing for Lopez and Mark Jackson for Harris.Trade all the young guys, keep Dooling Hayes, Boone, Hump. get Barkley for Thorn send Kiki to the WNBA.Please no more guys who are athletic, get some guys who can shoot, pass, rebound, and guard!

by frank c on Jan 24, 2010 11:39 PM EST reply actions  

Softer than a baby’s first b-movement.

by Mr. Dollar Bills on Jan 24, 2010 11:53 PM EST reply actions  

The entire team is soft..lolzzz

by Akara on Jan 25, 2010 12:08 AM EST reply actions  

@frank c

Nets is not a NBA team and none of them is a not NBA player including your Lopez.

Lopez = 1/2 Okur = 1/3 Kaman = 1/4 Howard

by Cajun on Jan 25, 2010 12:20 AM EST reply actions  

we have been soft since we lost KMart……He made everyone tougher…..should have drafted DeJauan Balire….They better get some tough dudes in the draft….

by johnfried on Jan 25, 2010 1:45 AM EST reply actions  

@ Frank C.

Yi, CDR, and T-Will are all worthy of playing in the NBA at this point. They’re all young and have a very high roof. Only Yi is costing us $$$. So why not.

Also, Charles Barkley???? C’mon.

Also, not cool to say that about Del Harris. Don’t get personal. He might be a very nice guy.

by Paul B on Jan 25, 2010 2:13 AM EST reply actions  

“Chris Douglas-Roberts went on for three minutes Saturday night about how each individual must take it upon himself to improve, but he somehow dovetailed that really good idea into, "It might sound selfish, but you’ve got to worry about yourself right now. . . .I’m not saying come out and be selfish, come out and be self-oriented, but away from the games you have to continue to get better."
    
Finally, he explained that it’s advice he received from Rod Thorn, "who emphasized to me, ‘Don’t let a situation define you.’ You have to keep at it yourself. That’s what I do."
    
CDR played the last game by himself: In 22:45 of floor time against Utah, he had one shot, one steal, two points, one foul, and zeroes across.”

CDR’s not even interested in looking like he’s doing something if the play’s not for him. Like I said from day 1, all CDR’s concerned about is number one, himself. Maybe he’s thinking his teammates are “haters” as well, since everyone who doesn’t totally adore him is a hater. I’m on twitter and he’s completely, absolutely obsessed with “haters”, believe me.

by muwu on Jan 25, 2010 4:08 AM EST reply actions  

“Here’s another stat that puts things in perspective: the Nets gave up 100 points four times in 16 games under Frank and have seen the century mark reached against them 20 times in the 27 games since, including the last six.”

Sooo, seems like L Frank wasn’t the worst coach there was huh? Bet you now wish we still had him rather than the empty suit named kiki

by muwu on Jan 25, 2010 4:12 AM EST reply actions  

Frank made up for the scouting cutback the team made by knowing all the opponents and their plays. I think muwu’s numbers say it all.

by kg on Jan 25, 2010 6:44 AM EST reply actions  

Frank would not put up with this garbage. He would not play mr. SoftYi 38 minutes if all he does is hold his hands up and say, go ahead big guy, there’s the rim.

by geo on Jan 25, 2010 6:51 AM EST reply actions  

So Opie was a great coach cuz he is better than Kiki who’s the coach only cuz he couldn’t shut up about how bad Opie was and how Opie was ruining Yi. LOL. Maybe Fagan will be the coach after the all-star break and by the end of the year will have Opie in the HOF or at least for COY compared to the other two. Show me a coach who recognizes defensive talent in the paint and doesn’t try to teach it in practice like the two bonehead coaches we had this year and I’ll show you a winner.

by Mr. Big on Jan 25, 2010 8:25 AM EST reply actions  

I miss Lawrence Frank, bring back Lawrence Frank.

by jarkid on Jan 25, 2010 8:46 AM EST reply actions  

@ Mr.Big

LOL…

by jarkid on Jan 25, 2010 8:47 AM EST reply actions  

Easy……YES

by JustinNJ on Jan 25, 2010 9:06 AM EST reply actions  

I think they have the most poorly conditioned players in the league. They are decent on the first quarter and then they go downhill from there. The Nets should implement Reilly’s system. Just look at Wade. Kiki’s mantra “just have fun” is the worst thing anybody could say. Have fun? when somebody is eating your lunch. Same thing with “very nice” Frank. It is always his fault.

by Edd on Jan 25, 2010 9:06 AM EST reply actions  

I hope Yi get traded to Phoeniz Suns :)… away from these bashing …

by Akara on Jan 25, 2010 4:50 PM EST reply actions  

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