Nets Get "B" for Off-Season...But Will It Translate Into Playoff Run?
by Net Income on Sep 6, 2010 12:01 PM EDT
in 2010 Free Agency
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PrintNBA.com is ranking the off-season for all 30 of the league's teams. In spite of an inability to sign a major free agent, the author, John Schuhmann, ranks the Nets' effort near the top of the pack with a B. Only three teams got an A, five others a B+.
The analysis gives the Nets high grades for improved coaching, defense and front court play, particularly the acquisition of Troy Murphy. The bench and backcourt don't get as high a grade.
Bottom line, though, writes Schuhmann, is not the new additions, but the improvement of the team's two best players, Brook Lopez and Devin Harris: "If [Lopez] can improve his post skills (especially his passing), he'll be one the league's best centers. Harris will need to be more of a distributor, while also getting back to caring about defense."
- 2010 New Jersey Nets Summer Report Card - John Schuhmann - NBA.com
- New Jersey Nets 2010-2011 Preview - HoopsWorld
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Fair assessment
Although he’s underrating Morrow’s impact.
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
Yes, I noticed this too.
I don’t see how a top shooter in the league and a point guard with championship experience equates to a C.
Consequences will never be the same.
by NetsMets4Life on Sep 6, 2010 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
A backcourt consisting of Devin Harris, Terrence Williams, Anthony Morrow, and Jordan Farmar is not bad at all. Especially if the latter three names surprise us this season under this system.
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
by MrDollarBills on Sep 6, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
It's the Lakers
Consequences will never be the same.
by NetsMets4Life on Sep 6, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
???
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Sep 6, 2010 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I would agree with a C in the backcourt
Our backcourt proved nothing as of now. Devin had a down year and Morrow is a liability on defense. We dont know how well T-will can play next to Devin and Farmar is unproven in the NBA because of the system he played in, in LA. Potential to be alot better then C, but for right now C sounds about right
B sounds better. You can look at negatively, like you did. Or you can look at it positively. Devin has been an all star and will thrive under Avery. Morrow has tons of talent, and can shoot lights out, with the potential to be on the hardest to guard NJ Nets. Farmar really wasn’t able to shine in LA, but when given the right opportunity will prove LA made a mistake letting him go. Terrence will continue his strides and become one of the best young back court duos with Devin and himself.
This sounds like B+ material to me
We improved a lot and still have the dumb doughters
We still have other teams fans saying we will be horrible, only we know the reasons why we were bad last year lack of coaching, didnt really care, lack of bench or players, no defense.
Also
I think it would have been nice to see at least a B+ in the coaching area. Avery obviously is massive upgrade, but we also have an outstanding staff in Jones, Mitchell, Krystkowiak, Loyer, and Barrise.
Consequences will never be the same.
I think this team is enough for a 8 or 7 seed
the key will be harris.
He has said all the right things in the off season but now he has to become a leader and has to remain healthy. As hoopsworld pointed out he has played 70 games or more since 2007.
I agree with the Thunder getting an A because they are all about developing where we could be soon as well.
If we stay the course.
by killa kadafi191 on Sep 6, 2010 12:16 PM EDT reply actions
we can make the playoffs
Harris 18-4-9
T-Will 20-5-4
Outlaw 12-5-1
Murphy 14-9-1
Lopez 20-9.8-1-1.5blk
I expect T-Will to average 12-15, as well as Outlaw and Murphy.
Our bench could score a lot too.
If Williams averages 20 per I'll have a heart attack
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
by MrDollarBills on Sep 6, 2010 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
this
if he averages 10-14, on a reasonable shooting percentage, I’ll consider it a break through.
mediocrity thy name is Wilpon- jdon
Agreed
If Twill avgs 20 or over, I would spend some in the hospital too.
Anyway, as nice as it would be for Twill to score all those points, I think that isnt his game. I dont want to see Twill taking too many shots to get that 20pt avg.
I would rather see more assists from Twill then him scoring 20 pts. I think 15pt is the max Twill will avg.
I wonder how many shots T-Will would have to take to AVG 20+...
My calculations say 35…But then again maybe his shot has improved. LOL
i honestly
can not see Twill coming of the bench. I think morrow is more the bench player.
Twill seem to be the better defensive player though morrow is the better shooter
by killa kadafi191 on Sep 6, 2010 12:48 PM EDT reply actions
Agreed
i think Morrow can be like Eddie House was for us, and has been for the Celtics. Lights-out from 3 off the bench.
Playoffs won't happen
You can say that this team is not the same as that 12 win team from a year ago, but that 12 win team’s top two players are still this team’s top two players. That’s not a good thing. The middle of the roster has improved, but it’s not enough for the playoffs.
Part of the reason we lost a whole bunch last season was because
we were outcoached.
Devin was horrible, Brook improved and still can improve, and the players around them improved, so I don’t know how it’s still the same team.
Its all new especially if we get Melo
Harris, James, Hump and Ross can get packaged Harris could get sent to a third team like Portland
Portland Gets:
Harris
Humpries
Denver Gets:
Rudy
James
Portland could aslo give up pieces like Williams or Mills or Pendegraph or Cunningham or Johnson
Pryzbilla
Ross
Picks 4(NJ) 2(PL)
Nets Get:
Melo
Bayless or Johnson or Mills
Only reason Denver won’t do it is because they think they can get more for him Favors and T-Will as well but its not happening. If Melo doesn’t sign the extension they have to get something even if it means Gallo/Curry.
Lineup: Billups/Lawson Fernandez/Affalo James/Smith Martin/Harrington Nene/Prysbilla
Only reasons Nets won’t do it is because Harris and James are young talented players (who Avery is in love with), but so is Melo and Bayless, they get better and still have a chance to spend 10 Million in Free Agency . This trade allows T-Will to play the point more often and get more minutes from everyone instead of Harris taking up 36mpg and keep their future and get younger, but Melo could reject the trade because Harris is involved.
Lineup: Bayless/Farmar T-Will/Morrow Melo/Outlaw Murphy/Favors Lopez/Petro
Only reason Portland won’t do it is becuase well there s no reason why Portland will not do it Bayless has wanted out, Fernandez as wanted out a Pryzbilla is always hurt.
Lineup: Harris/Miller Roy/Matthews Butum/Babbitt Alridge/Humpries Oden/Camby
Yes two is good enough
Devon and James is not better than Baylees and Carmelo unless you think James is an All Star which he is not and is never going to be they have other optioins as well.
Anthoner team looking for a PG that are in contention and feel are missing one piece (it doesn’t nessaserlly means that but).
Bobcats and Hawks are other teams who might be interested in Harris and have young players and draft picks who Nuggets might want and a young PG in return for the Nets.
Bobcats, Hawks or Portland Get:
Harris
Hump
Nets Get:
Teague or Augustin or Bayless
Carmelo
Nuggets Get:
Jordan Crawford or Henderson
Jamal Crawford (wants trade they don’t want to sign extension) or Brown or Pendergraph
Pachulia or Dampier or Pryzbilla
James
Ross
Hawks might be giving up the most, but Harris could get them past the 2nd round.
like it. Im all for making any deal with Carmelo three teams for multiple reasons
A. We can give up less talent and get more
B. it makes Harris more valuable because we can get another PG in return
C. offers may look more attractive to Denver thus causing them to trade Anthony
But there are reasons i would rather not go after Melo
A. Im not ready to part ways with Devin, especially after hiring Avery
B. I dont want to give up more than 2 young players (ala TWill)
C. I want to see what the unproven players can do in this league. None of us have seen D. James in the NBA, who knows maybe hes an allstar steal? Favors could become something great and he and Lopez would become dominant. Terrence under a good caoch, full season, and some straightening out could become a great player, Iggy like.
So bottom line is: lets either stick with waht we have and get melo through fa, or give up very little for melo
Thank goodness that Jack was finally able to kick Jacob’s brother aka Smokey off the cliff to his death. Although I still am not sure how it would have been so bad if his mother had let him leave the island in the first place.
by ispartan on Sep 6, 2010 7:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
This is not the same team, regardless of Harris and Lopez being our two best players.
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
by MrDollarBills on Sep 6, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
playoffs=who cares
It’s about player development + smart draft picks. If we make the playoffs, fine, if not, doesn’t matter
this is what I'm thinking as well
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
by MrDollarBills on Sep 6, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Premature report?
There are two more weeks of summer and Carmelo has not been moved yet.
by ispartan on Sep 6, 2010 2:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
same here
true if we make to the playoffs we will likely be spanked but imagine going 12-70 to playoffs does for a young team like the Nets.
Now there is a difference with making the playoffs with this team as it is.
Making the playoffs if we trade for melo.
one isn’t enough and the other is fantastic for a young team that can only get better.
U FORGOT
Many of you forget that we started the season with so many injured players – hence not even a solid bench. We also lost our glue guy (VC) and DH wasn’t a 100%.
No more excuses here – we got rid of (6) and added (11). Our bench is solid, we have a decent starting cast.
I truly believe we can be the Bof 2009 – landing us a seed above 8th spot. It’s called faith :).
My starting squad:
Harris
Morrow
Outlaw
Murphy
Lopez
6th man: T-Will (though he is more skilled than morrow to play the 2 spot but we need someone to lead the 2nd squad).
Young Guns: Ready to make some noise
Farmar
T-Wil
James
Favor
Petro
Rest Makers:
Uzoh
Ross
May (the skinny assumption version, lol)
D Hump
Mr. Easy ZB
injuries is part of the game
and it doesn’t help that our starting pg who many considers our leader/second best player is injury prone.
I feel playoffs can happen but if they don’t we are still just fine.
by killa kadafi191 on Sep 6, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah im not worried to much about making the playoffs
I just hope to see a reallllly good team by the second half of the season. also would like to see our young guys look like diff. players by that time
But the real question is where is the cut off number of games played.
If you miss 10 games a year I consider that is my cut off. Murphy is averaging right around that number. Outlaw had 2 iron man years book-ended by some problem years
read what?
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
by MrDollarBills on Sep 7, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
i can foresee a HUGE turnaround from last season...
but that will be in comparison to one of the worst seasons in the history of the game. the real test for this team is to see improvement into next season, and the seasons following into brooklyn. obviously this is a “new” team, and to win even 30 games next season would be a huge improvement. i’m more concerned about how this team grows and continues to improve over the next few years
Question
If we didnt have a 12 win season last year. How would your win/loss predictions look this year?
i'm just saying
you can’t give this team an A right now… for any reason. the way that the Lakers are the defending champions, the incumbent dynasty, the nets are still the incumbent loser. 12-70 all the way back to 30-52 is still a disgusting record. relative to last year tho, yeah its a huge improvement. i need to see this team play before grading this off-season.
I wasnt disagreeing with you
i just wanted your opinion on what you think this teams record would be if we didnt come off a 12 win season. We shouldnt compare to our 12 win season because it is a new team. If we win 25 Games (thats 13 more wins then last year) i will not be happy. i think this team is better than 30 wins i think more like 35… and if we dont get to that number we should look at it as a disapointment.
its tough to say...
what it would be like if we didn’t win 12 games. we probably wouldn’t have acquired half the guys we did if we won 35+ games last season. Yi might still be around if we were a .500 team. who knows, there’s too many variables.
right now, i’m predicting that this team wins no more than 35 games, and that we miss the playoffs. but if our young players get better, and start to either learn how to win, or remember how to win, i will consider this off-season and the 2010-2011 season a success.
To be honest my eyes are going to be glued on Favors
If he developes and Brook gets better, this season would be a success looking into the future regardless of the record. But if we knew nothing about last year but knew everything we know now about the players we have i would imagine most would predict 32-35 wins this season. Thats my point, i dont think i am going to be satisfied with just being better than last year. I want us to be better than last year while living up to our potential
every year should be an improvement
that’s why many were so upset/sadden by nearly making the playoffs in 2009 to what happen in 2010,
before the murphy trade I saw 24 wins at the most now I see 8 or 7 seed and getting swept.
that's optimistic
we are so concerned with how much better we’ve become, but most teams in the east became better also. other than cleveland (obvious) and the celts (age, but reigning eastern conference champs) its fair to say most teams in the east improved in this offseason.
We should have been awarded......
an “AAA+++”…….for our coaching changes…….
Why believe stuff from HoopsWorld when one of their writers thinks that Favors was the #2 pick overall.
At least that writer should have picked the Nets to be 2nd in the Division, not 4th.
What did get my attention was the Capologist confirming that Nets haven’t renounced rights to Jarvis Hayes.
The new Storyteller Contracts update is out (9/1/10) but it doesn’t mention Hayes:
http://www.storytellerscontracts.com/
Hopefully, Hayes won’t find a new home and Nets will hold onto his rights for as long as necessary, for a possible sign and trade.
this doesn't seem to be a grade of the off-seasons
as much as of the current team set up.
mediocrity thy name is Wilpon- jdon
Also while on paper I don't think this is much better than a 30-35 win team
looking at the rest of the east I wouldn’t be shocked if we made the play-offs, it’s pretty desolate. A 30-35 win team on paper could be a 40 some win team given the top heavy state of the east.
mediocrity thy name is Wilpon- jdon
by Gina on Sep 6, 2010 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
So a 30-35 win team is really a 30-40 win team?
Why not a 25-40 win team? I’m not sure I understand your reasoning Gina.
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Sep 6, 2010 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Gina just has high standards with her on paper win total.
But I do agree that East is top weighted.
Between the draft and free agency, East should have made big gains vs. West.
However, it may take time for some of the draft picks to have an impact and West may have done OK to replace Amare and Boozer.
The only thing we know for sure is that Cleveland will drop (should miss playoffs) and Toronto will drop more – and both are in the East.
What baffles me is that even difficult ESPN type people believe Nets had a good enough team to win 20-22 games last season, so with the upgrades during June/July, Nets should already have been better than a 30 win team. Then, when they finally get the missing piece in Troy Murphy, the projected win total should jump a minimum of 7 games and possibly much more.
Some people have said that Murphy only adds 3-4 wins, which doesn’t make sense.
Also, if not for the Melo uncertainty, Nets could still play around with the roster with moderate cost, and pick up reserves like Earl Watson and Tiny Gallon (if he becomes available), as upgrades to Uzoh and Zoubek.
no I mean if talent was evenly distributed through out the east
this team, as constructed, would be lucky to make it to 30-35 wins. But because theirs like 4-5 REALLY GOOD teams, and a lot of really awful ones. This team could slip into the play-offs. Last year you had a lot of teams in the middle, most of whom I would say would be better than this team, but now you have a pretty big divide between the haves and the have nots of the east and once you get past the top 4-5 (I’d say Miami, Orlando, Hawks, Celtics), you have some teams like the Knicks, Bulls and like the Bucks I guess, and then every else is pretty much awful and I happen to think of the awful bunch we’re less awful.
mediocrity thy name is Wilpon- jdon
Bulls and Bucks are playoff teams IMO
after that, anything goes.
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
by MrDollarBills on Sep 7, 2010 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Someone has to explain Schuhmann’s report card math. The Nets get 3 Bs and 2 Cs, but end up with a B (odd enough).
But the Wiz get
C-
B
C
C+
B
but end up with a B+ .
"Sometimes it's the people. Any player can play defense, but not every player will play defense. Sometimes it's a lack of perseverance." - A. Johnson
by kv on Sep 6, 2010 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
+1
Good question!
not "that" Jersey Shore...Point Pleasant, 10 refreshing miles north of Seaside.
by John at the Jersey Shore on Sep 6, 2010 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, he didn't even have the decency to work backwards to make things add up correctly.
However, I like Schulmann’s reporting from Istanbul.
At least he was willing to go to Turkey, while everyone else stayed home to telecast the games from a Studio.
To me we won just by the theory of addition by subtraction! You can’t win when your team’s rotation includes Yi, Bobby Simmons, Tony Battie, CDR, Josh Boone, Chris Quinn, Sean Williams, Eduardo Najera and Jarvis Hayes. That will be a 12 win team! lol
LETS GO NETS!
As I wrote above, that because of waiting for Melo, Nets might hold off on opportunity to make a couple of upgrades before the season.
But sports people are ignorant if they don’t at least feel that Nets have a shot at playoffs and Knicks certainly have many ways to miss playoffs.
The Wiz seem to be the most uncertain team – Hopefully Yi will keep the Wiz behind the Nets.
DOES THE KNICKS REALLY HAVE A BETTER SUMMER THAN THE NETS???
I CAN’T AGREE WITH IT.. THEY ONLY GOT THE INJURY PRONE STAT… AND WE EVEN GET 7 PLAYERS FOR A LESS MONEY THAN HIM.. SO WHO DO YOU THINK HAS A BETTER SUMMER?? NYK??? LOL
A "B" from John Schuhmann?
Not bad… and they didn’t even mention our biggest acquistion, Travis Outlaw.
Defense is the key
No matter what everyone has the Nets players averaging stats-wise – defense is the only thing that matters. So few teams in NBA play good defense nowadays (see OKL Thunder) – it gets you 10-15 extra wins on it’s own in a season. If they don’t buy into to Avery’s defensive commitment – he needs to be able to bench anyone on the team (Harris!!) to prove he is in control and no one is above the team. Good defense and team basketball and contributions by Favors and James – they can get to 35-38 wins this year and challenge for the 8th spot through April. Otherwise looking at maybe 25-28 wins.
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