Graham Relishes Stopper Role
Stephen Graham was the last player to join the Nets this summer, barely a week before training camp. He didn't even sign a fully guaranteed deal, but what he did get was a call from Avery Johnson promising an challenging role. "That was the phone call I got: ‘we’re bringing you in to put you on the best player on other teams.’ I took that as a personal challenge and I like doing that," Graham said.
Wednesday, after doing nice jobs on Joe Johnson and Rudy Gay, he'll be up against the Durantula: Kevin Durant. His coach thinks he's up to it, but compares Durant to a more athletic George Gervin and he's a Hall of Famer. Johnson also spoke of how he wished that Brook Lopez, like Durant, could have experienced the World Championships.
- Graham enjoying role as Nets' defensive stopper - Fred Kerber - New York Post Nets Blog
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SMH
***Official member of "Bring Melo to the Nets" movement**
by Claud on Dec 29, 2010 6:48 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
OHHH MYYYY SMH
Someone delete this article before someone else wants us kicked out of the league.
"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."
by Atronic on Dec 29, 2010 6:49 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Graham makes me really want Carmelo Anthony.
Worst per-minute +/- on the team: http://www.nba.com/statistics/plusminus/plusminus_sort.jsp?pcomb=1&season=22010&split=9&team=Nets
NetsDaily.com
What an ugly chart. The only ones almost as bad are TWill and Joe Smith, so why is Graham still around?
by ispartan on Dec 29, 2010 7:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'd bring Simmons or Hassel back before even thinking about signing outlaw or graham.
We could’ve signed jefferson or gotten beasley :( damn you thorn ! putting another “thorn” in or play-off hopes.
by David Triger on Dec 29, 2010 6:58 PM EST up reply actions
I still think they're as good or an improvement. and much cheaper.
by David Triger on Dec 29, 2010 7:17 PM EST up reply actions
Jarvis Hayes to me in particular when healthy
"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."
Our win total last year ended a lot of careers.
"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."
More like "And 1" Specialist.
All we need is a damn SF we have everything else to make it to the play-offs but our SF’s are sooo bad they make everyone else worse as well.
for the other team
all he does is turn the ball over and take bad shots on offense
Lets just 68 and say I owe you one
by starbury_to_s-jaxci2000 on Dec 29, 2010 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
I would play sean williams at SG or SF rather than this guy.
Hell I bet Sly does a better job too
***Official member of "Bring Melo to the Nets" movement**
This is the type of article that gets Proky antsy
"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."
I wouldn't trade Graham for Melo. Melo plays no defense.
Official Member of The Ancient Mystic Society of No Melo
He's a stopper alright.
He stops the Nets from winning.
Official Member of The Ancient Mystic Society of No Melo
by TWilliAM on Dec 29, 2010 7:04 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
so you guys know
He had a $450,000 partial guarantee on a vets minimum salary which became fully guaranteed earlier this month. As a result, he also gets a guaranteed $100,000 paid up front next season. If the Nets don’t waive him before July 5, next year is fully guaranteed.
Rudy Gay might disagree with a number of you on Graham’s defensive abilities.
When you're as wretched as he is at everything else
you need to be Scottie Pippen good defensively to be a useful player.
He isn’t close.
Official Member of The Ancient Mystic Society of No Melo
The Nets have been better defensively with Graham on the bench: http://basketballvalue.com/teamplayers.php?year=2010-2011&team=NJN
NetsDaily.com
His steal and rebound rates are horrid
so this is hardly a surprise.
Official Member of The Ancient Mystic Society of No Melo
jason collins is +80
wth is is the +/- stat?
by David Triger on Dec 29, 2010 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
rudy saw the schedule...saw nets....ate a bucket of fried chicken
then sleep walked through that entire game
Lets just 68 and say I owe you one
by starbury_to_s-jaxci2000 on Dec 29, 2010 8:07 PM EST up reply actions
I know, so many Nets fans feel Graham has not lived up to the expectations they had for him when we signed him a week before camp
All that talk of him being a rotation player back then seems foolish now. Oh, wait…
But seriously now, what did you guys expect, and has he not lived up those expectations?
Nets = Global
Knicks = Local
Winner of "TWill is not in Nets' future" Clairvoyance Award
All because of that shot in Philly on the preseason
He looks like he’s gaining more confidence which is not a good thing dribbling around like he has the handle of D-wade all the while chewing his gum.
"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."
If it's true that the Nets signed him because of that shot
I guess the Nets were supposed to look at that shot as fool’s gold. That is, they should not have gotten taken in by that game winner. But how many posters in the post-game thread posted here were warning the Nets front office against being taken in by that game winner? I could go look, but I’m guessing none. It’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback and criticize after the fact.
Nets = Global
Knicks = Local
Winner of "TWill is not in Nets' future" Clairvoyance Award
Yeah but he didn't really play well in the preseason either
I think he would have been cut if Zoubek didn’t get injured
"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."
Honestly, me neither
which means he’s playing at a level at which I would expect a “no-name” player to play. He’s not even supposed to be a rotation player. Injuries thrust this upon him. Is that his fault? We criticize him for that? C’mon now.
Nets = Global
Knicks = Local
Winner of "TWill is not in Nets' future" Clairvoyance Award
I expected him to wear a suit and sit in a chair next to the bench, so no, he has not lived up to my expectations.
by ispartan on Dec 29, 2010 7:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 6 recs
lol
Nice one. But seriously, blame the players in front of Graham for getting injured (Morrow), being a jerk (TWon’t) or not playing up to expectations (Outlaw)…all of which has forced Avery to play Graham more minutes than are suitable.
Nets = Global
Knicks = Local
Winner of "TWill is not in Nets' future" Clairvoyance Award
For the record
Graham was not supposed to be in the rotation. It was supposed to be Outlaw and D. James at the 3, Morrow and TWon’t at the 2. Maybe with Graham playing two or three minutes at the end of the second quarter leading into halftime. That’s it.
Then, Outlaw disappointed, James got hurt, Morrow got hurt, TWon’t quit on the team. Graham was the last man standing and got the minutes. If Graham is really that bad, Sasha will take his place in the lineup, I guess.
I just think it’s silly to criticize Graham for extenuating circumstances and so forth.
Nets = Global
Knicks = Local
Winner of "TWill is not in Nets' future" Clairvoyance Award
Extenuating circumstances
are also the reason Quintin Ross had been getting minutes until he got hurt, lol.
Nets = Global
Knicks = Local
Winner of "TWill is not in Nets' future" Clairvoyance Award
i cant stand the guy
i’d rather have his substance-abusing brother instead
Lets just 68 and say I owe you one
by starbury_to_s-jaxci2000 on Dec 29, 2010 8:09 PM EST up reply actions
Not only is he a defensive stopper..
He is an Net offense stopper
a Net run stopper
a Net win stopper
and how about a general good feeling about this team stopper?
Graham Is Fine
He is a very solid 3rd shooting guard with defensive capabilities. I have no problem with Graham.
The only reason he is starting right now is because Morrow is out. He may not play more than 5-6 minutes per game when he returns; Vujacic is the backup shooting guard now.
3rd sg playing starters minutes.....that is the problem
he should be playin 8 mpg max
Lets just 68 and say I owe you one
by starbury_to_s-jaxci2000 on Dec 29, 2010 8:10 PM EST up reply actions
Backboard> Graham ..................... Chair> Graham
unfortunetly they play for all of the team we play against.
by David Triger on Dec 29, 2010 7:28 PM EST up reply actions
In an unrelated story...
Anyone else notice TWILL hasnt played at all in Houston?
Lebron James
“Imagine if you could add Graham to the Minnesota Timberwolves, just like he 80’s baby”
"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."
Probly right
"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."
Defensive stopper?
Yeah, stops us from winning games.
Official Member of the "MAKE CARMELO A NET" Movement
The ripping of players like Graham and Outlol
Actually makes me feel better as a Nets fan for having to watch this product every night.
"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."
cant wait for durant to get locked down
you know 30 points on 20 shots 8-10 from the free throw line. 3-4 from three. only a couple of jumpshots and plenty of those tough dunks and layups that are so hard to make.
Lets just 68 and say I owe you one
by starbury_to_s-jaxci2000 on Dec 29, 2010 8:13 PM EST reply actions

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